The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-12-22
OUR PUBLIC HIGHWAYS
PRACTICAL AND COMMON SENSE SUCCESS
TIoNs AS TO HOW GOOD
ROADS MAY BE BAD.
Let the County Commissioners OF Abb
beviIle Rea-a, Ponder, and Inward
ly Digest...It is as Good for Able.


spARTANBURa COUNTY, Dec. 9th, 1886.
Editor ClTOtind Spartan:
Two years ago, It was heralded from the
seaboard to the mountains that Senator But
Ter would discuss through the papers, 1.-THE
road question" The same question has been
hinted OF by every candidate for County Com
missioner In each county, for the last eight on
ten years. Nearly every newspaper in the
State; about this time Of the year, has some
tanIurg correspondent has given quietus to
1t, for the present, by suggesting to the egsla-
ture, through the Ne,os and Courier, Oh nc
count of hard times, TO do nothing. As If the
two were inseparable. hard times and bad
! roads, why NOT bad roads and hard times
Everyone knows the advantage Of O good
road. 1t means quick aud comfortable travel:
big loads, little wear and tear 10 vehicles, and
few accidents. 1t was said by the old people,
that nosto of our roads are Indian trails, and
paths Of the first settlers and their stock, Wild
eneu as required.
Irepudiate the statement 80 far as the cattle
are concerned. Cows are good engineers, they
II. These paths were blazed when all the
travel was on horseback or on foot, the only
consideration being direct course and good
fords. A shual was generally chosen. and ns
these are located where the hills project al.
most to the very margin of the streams. Of
course, the paths would be up and down the
highest and toughest hills. Take as few OF
by Walkers, Mr.. Adair's Mill. The shoal
there was "once upon time" a great deer
crossing. And many fine buck has lost his
life in assisting to locate she road. The old
Glenn Springs road by Antioch Ford and
Church, where We "march up the hills to
march down again." The Rutherford road by
McAlillan's bridge on Pacolett, with treinen-
dous hills on both sides which can beavoided.
Aud not 10 slight any point OF the compass.
from the centre. the Court House, the Lau-
rens road by McAbees should be considered.
In fact, don't believe there Is single APP
but what may be improved. Have an engi:;
neer locate the roads. taking advantage OF
natural depressions, going around hills and
up branches. Now since the abolition OF
and ditchine, very few, il any OF the land
owners, would object to roads being changed,
when they would occupy about the same
amount OF land, and can be made TO act as
washing the lands and filling ths streams
with sand to the detriment Of bottom lands,
and perhaps TO the health OF the people living
In the ncighborhoOd.
tract OF land. ny is often the case; there might
be some objection. But ns the proposition Is
to 60 around the mountainous hills only, as
no Iences are required and the public interest
demands IL. no one should object TO having a
little land on the other side of the road.
AS for the homesteads most OF them were
located In the olden times on or near the top
of hill, close 10 the road, to'saye lane. Now
from the road and giving space for lawn or
cultivated plats, with easy walks or drives 10
the house. After locating. the present system
OF work Is good enough. 1t is easier TO get
three or four days work out Of the average Ia
borer; than IL would be to get half as many
dollars. Besides our people are accustomed to
IL. Convince them OF the universal advnnt.
age of good roads, let them see TINT the work
will last longer than between showers, and !
will venture to say, IN few years. there will
be friendly rIvaIty between nelghborhoodS
as to which will have the best. This cannot
DC done like magic. It will take little time.
But beginning Is half completion. Let our
County Commissioners, and they are as good
rs any county can boast of, take one or two OF
the worst roads, or the worst parts of several
roads. and fix them the first year and so on.
If the Murray bill concerning prisoners be-
comes law and 1t should do so they can be
used in the heaviest work, building abnt.
ments. culverts, grading and the like. We
have plenty or competent surveyors who
would take a pride In overcoming the rugged
old hills. some, perhaps, for the honor, all un-
doubtedy, for "a little remuneration" Our
first resilient surveyor. Col. Harris, hos left
his indeIible mark by q road several miles
long perfectly straight.
This is not written In n spirit OF censure, on
ly as Il suggestion. Let Others speak.