The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1889-04-04
THE ROAD CONGRESS
AND THE PUBLIC ROADS AGAIN.

EDITORS JOURNAL: Since my commu~
munication commencing the callfor road
congress was published in the JOURNAL
few weeks ago, have noticed three others
from as many different parties, rather op-
posing the congress and favorinq the
present road laws. Now, it occurs to me
that the writers of those communications
have not given the subject much careful
thought OR they would see it differently.
do not say that the congress is an absolute
necessity, as the desired end might be
reached in some other wry. Each county
might take the matter in her own hands
and manage it wisely, but as it will cost the
state nothing and be composed of repre-.
sentative men from all the counties (that
is if they all respond), who will consider
and discuss the question in all it phases.
it can do no harm and will probably do
good. As to the present road law which
has been on our statute books so long and
which has, as Judge Winn said been rung
in the ears of the grand juries for the past
twelve years. Che might have said forty
years., we know what it has done for us.
or rather, what it has not done for us. We
know it has not given US good roads, and
we all know and admit that good roads are
necessary to the proper Development and
prosperity of any, and especially an agri-
cultural country. But why has not the
present law given US good roads? The
ready answer comes, Because it has not
been enforced. l will admit that. If it
was fully enforced it would give us much
better, and perhaps in most sections, good
enough roads. But why has it been so sell
dom fully enforced? l answer: Because,
whenever it has beeh attempted it has been
found almost impracticable on account of
its interference with farm work, and its
oppression on the lahoring classes OF our
citizens. | vas brought up under the
present road law and served out my time
under it, and had occasion to observe and
experience Its effect on poor men when it
was attempted to enforce it to its full ex-
tent remember we'll when | was living
near Atlanta, some years ago, that !, with
| other poor men, was required to work the
roads twelve or fifteen days (the latter be-
ing the limit of the law in one year, while
men OF mole means, who were running
several teams daily hauling wood and
brick into the city and cutting the roads to
pieces, did nothing to keep them up, simply
because they were over 80 years old This
seemed hard to me and to Others and un-
just, too.
Public roads are public institutions, es-
tablished and sustained for the public good.
1t seems just and right, therefore, that each
citizen should contribute according to his
means, to their support; and especially
does 1t seem just and right that persons
who have most use for roads, who do most
to wear them out, and who are most bepe-
fitted by them, should do most to keep
them up. Don't that seem fair and right
Our friend Briar,' in his letter of last
week, says "The poor man thinks there is
no more oppression in making him work
the road as many days as the rich man. than
there is making in him pay as much poll
tax as the rich man. To this | reply: |
think ne has not consulted the poor man"
much on the question. If he will do so, he
will change his opinion. When the poor
man pays as much tax as the rich he
thereby secures an equal right at the ballot
box-a right which he should and does
prize very highly-but it never can put
him on equal footing with the rich, so far
as the public roads are concerned, because
he does not use them so much, and it is
out Of his power to use them as the rich
man does. l have long thought that the
public roads ought to be kept up, in part,
by an ad valorum tax.
| think every citizen that is able to work
should do something in that direction, and
If | had to suggest plan as an improve
ment on the present. it would be somehow
as follows: Let every man able to work
and OF the present road working age pay,
soy Pl'0O per hHuum ROAD TAX, or Work
two days; and in addition to this let the
property of each citizen in the county, ont
side OF Incorporated towns, be taxed ad
valorum sufficiently to put the roads in
good condition and keep them SO. Let
there be in every district one or two over
seers, whose duty it should be to take
charge of the roads and bridges, hire
hands and keep them in good and safe
condition. Then farmers and mechanics
and others would have no trouble with
them, and it would be cheaper in the end
think, than the present plan.
One thing is evident. If the condition
of our roads is very materially improved
there will have to be change The pres
ent discriminating and unjust law must be
rigidly enforced, or we must have new
and more equitable one; and if the pres.
ent law is enforced to an extent sufficient
to bring about the much desired betterment