The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-06-12

Of one IS 70 the interest ofnl and the fact that the
city Of Macon pays about seyen-eighths Of all the
taxes collected In Bib county, only makes it the
more important fof the city merchants to look after
the condition Of the county roads and, boast M?
biuster we may. there can never be any real pro-
gress and prosperity IN Georgia uutil have better
public roads aud we will never have them under
the old fashioned single tooth rake and garden hoe
system. lazy man won't work the public road for
nothing and the industrious farmer can't afford TO
do IT, While other influences may have had some
thing TO do with working out the results as recently
Show by the tax digest Of this state Is neyerihe-
less n remarkable fact that those six counties IN
Georgia whose public roads are worked constantly
and systematically by then own conSicts, ave the
six counties which show the largest increase OF
values on their real and personal property. We re-
fer 10 the counties Of Chatham, Richmond Musco-
gee, Floyd, Fulton and BIB
These are truths that THE CoSsTlTUTIoN
has been trying to impress on the people Of
Georgia for several years. The relation be-
tween prosperity and good roads are very
close indeed. Where there are good roads,
the community or the neighborhood is al
ways prosperous above the average.
But there can never be good roads in
Georgia until the present system is changed.
All our readers know what that system is.
Once year the road commissioners or over
seers serve notice ON those who are liable to
road duty, as the phrase is, and then there
is a gathering that rivals the old-time mus
tiers of the Georgia militia. Indifferent
white men, thriftlcss negroes aud young
boys who have been hired as substitutes.
There is a p'ck gang and q shovel gang.
The pick gang digs mp the mud in the
ditches and the shovel gang throws II out
into the middle Of Tie highway.
There can be but one result Of this. The
roads grow worse year after year. Some
times they get AZ their worst, and then the
wagons and other vehicles take 10 the woods
or fields to avoid the sinks and mud holes
that the road workers have made In the
course Of time, these "turn-ou,s' become = |
part of the public highway, and then the
road workers proceed 10 ruin them. The
grand jury Of Bib 60 on to say:
That city in Georgia which has len al others far
behind in the great race .or prominence ana I'm !
rroyement is found to be the city which has spent
the most money Oh her streets duging the last i've |
years. She has concentrated as II were her money
and her energy on her Streets ana the results are
not TO be wondered ct We refer with pride to the |
capital Of our state, whose example ia this part;cu-
lar might wei! be oIuuatcd By every city ana town |
In the country. The extraordinary efforts made by |
those people 10 build Tor thems lives q great ety.
have some time had the appearance If eXtraya- |
gance but experience has taught that there eau be
no such thing rs an eNtravagant appropriation Of |
money streets and roads So long as Il Is honestly
aud judiciously expended We are informed that |
the entire cost Of keeping up over tWo hundred |
miles Of road in this county under the pres sys-
TEN, has not exceeded, on an average. 1000 FER |
annum for the last three years This we regard as
but irihlng expense as con pared with the work |
done and The great benefits derived, And we earn
estly recommend that the appropriation at all times
be kept fully mp 10 the demand which may be |
made upon this del ariment OF our public service
II economy is . DC practced, let it BE- somewhere
else than on our putic roads unless it be in the |
shape Of that wise economy which is always spend
ing money to get il back.
All OF which we commend to the atten-
ton Of our readers.