Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1888-02-25

Mr.. EDITOR-Tle subject now up
permost III tile minds of our people g
the wretched condition of our public
roads. all admit that something must
be done, hut the trouble seems to he to
settle upon some intelligent and definite
plan. The old road system has proved
to be an utter failure. The almost i'm
passible condition Of our roads suffi-
GENTLY prove this fact. But some peo-
pie Wish to retain the SUBSTANTIAL Tea
lures of the old law. s.Farmer" in your
paper suggests some notifications
alnong them the giving CT power to
some petty aristocrats to determine
what roads shall be worked. and what
neglected. Here would he unlimited
opportunity for favortelsn. But the
great bug bear which seems to albright
Farmer lis tax payers rebellion.
He cries Ego slow" While our roads
ale in their present condition we must
Ego slow" To go fast is impossible.
But low about the tax payers re-.
belion?" Why my dear, Farmer"
we have had a tax payers rebellion"
for 10. these many ears. The poor Ia
borer who has no cart. vehicle or team
To drive upon OF cut up the roads, has
rebelled and is to-day rtb,llious against
an odious and most iniquitous law,
winch compels him to do the same
amount of tabor OIL the public highways
a. his richer and more powerful neigh.
Dor who has, MANY teams. carts, wagons
and carriages TO cut the roads to pieces.
Tie surveyors Of roads all over the
county know this rebellIous spirit pre-
walls among the poor cartless, teanlltss
labursrS who are required to do four
tifths Of the. work on public highways,
and hence pay fouriifths of the labor
tax. while1they do not receive one-teltll
Of the benefits.
Another suggestion has been made by
"Medoc'' in the last issue of the Eas-
tern Virgian. His plan retains all the
oGious features Of the present unjust
and Ubiquitous road law. He wants
new task masters appointed, called
commissioners" to gUad the surveyor
on, and COMPEL the poor over taxed road
laborer to do more work.
But never, this law will not do. Ev-
cry right thinking mans sense of JUS
tice revolts at the iniquity. The old
law must go. 1t is unjust, tyrannical,
oppressive. It taxes the labor of the
poor man to I'LL up the holes and cuts
made in the highways by the carts and
carriages of the Weather classes. Ii
you compel our poor cartless labOrers tt
mike good our roads, who will be most
benefited by the improvements? The
property holders undoubtedly.
Is this just? IS it honest to take the
poor man s labor, without compensation
toimproye property holders estate? !
To add to the poor road labor er's task
he is required to keep the roads In good
condition without proper tools and I'M.
elements. With good road pl0ws ,scrapes
Jewelers., rollers, and suitable teams,
more work and better work Can be done
by one man than fifty men can do BY
our present mode OF working roads.
To compel The poor laborers, without
proper implements to keep our roads in
good repair, finds At parallel in the ty
rannical command of Plar0ah that The
lsraelites should make their regular
tale Of brick without straw.
Mr.. Editor, I am naturally conserva
tive in my sentiments,a land generally op
posed t.. hasty changes, but when ! fine
upon the STATUTE book an unjust law,
oppressive to the poor, say strike il
down. land stand not upon ceremony but
strike at once.
Moreover, this enforced labor system
will not work-syou can lead horse t
water but you cannot compel him tx
drink" IUu,may require the laborer'
to go on the road. but they will not woft
with a will and effectively. They fee
that they are performing an onerou'
task. and they sulk aud shirk ali the,
can, The old road law must go. Ther
let US have a just law and paid labor Il
wolk our roads, supported by genera
taxation. l would not object to a ligh'
capitation tax, provided 1t is not oppres
to the benefits they derive from It's ex
penditure, and I firmly believe wilt!
| wisely direritd maid lnhnr aud prODe