The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-01-14
Public Roads.

cussion in several northern states. The
governors of Pennsylvania and Massachu-
sets called attention to it in their recent
messages, and it has been taken up by the
press Of those states and of New Jersey.
Gov. Beaver attributes tue bad roads in
Pennsylvania to the want Of system in the
road laws, and the trouble in New Jersey
seems to be identical with that in Pennsyl-
wanna. Gov. Ames thinks that good roads
could be secured eventually in Massachu-
sets if a state road commissioner were APP
pointed with authority to inspect the roads,
and TO make such suggestions to the legisla-
ture as he might think proper.
If, as has been asserted, the civilization of
a country is indicated by its public roads,
then civilization has not advanced very
greatly in Georgia. The roads of this state
are not kept in much better condition than
they were years ago. Great improvement
hes been made in them IN some localities,
but in ell OF tho counties there yet is very
broad margin for Improvement. In fact,
the roads generally are about as bad as they
can be, considering that they receive any
attention at all The trouble is not that we
have not sufficient road laws to make good
roads possible but that the laws are not
enforced. the work in most of
the counties is done during a few
weeks Of the spring and fall. and it is not
well done. The aim Of the overseers seems
to be to put the ROADS in such condition as
will barely cause the work to be accepted
by the commissioners, and the commission
o,,t 4AaA
grand jurie. do nothing more than to rec
ommend in their general present1nents that
IN future more attention be given to the
roads.
lie subject Of roads IS one to which the
different Farmers Alliances Of the state
might give attention with entire propriety
and irodt. ~ class Of people would be so
greatly heDeh,ed by good roads as farmers.
Good roads would lessen the injury to
horses and mules and the wear and tear of
vehicles and harness, AID they would facili-
tate travel aud transportation. In addi-
ton they would add very greatly to com
fort. BY united action the farmers might
do a great deal in tais important matter.
1t is gratifying 10 note that Georgia ap-
pears 10 be waking up on the subject Sew
eral suggestions looking to good roads have
been made lately. Oae of them is that con
victs be put to work on the roads in the
counties in which they are convicted, and
another is that special county taxes for
road PURPOSES be levied, so that a road
f rec, under a competent commissioner
may be kept at work throughout the year
Objections have been urged to both plans,
but it is very evident that in order to have
good roads, repairs must be made when
ever necessary, and ~ thout delay, and that
the WORK must be almost continual. and not
at intervals Of SIX months.
Nominations FOR County officers.
1t is not very surprising that there should
be a number Of election contests arising out
of the recent elections for county officers
in this state. In most of the counties tho
manner i'll which jhase elections were con-
Quoted was calculated to invite contests
The fact that generally nomil ations we're
net made brought about scramble for the
Offices and the counties were secured for
votes by the different candidates. Ere
quently votes were cast by people who
were not qualified to cast them, and
in other instances, while it would be diff
cult to show that bribery was practised,
there was enough to warrant the suspicion
Of vote buying, aud to cause defeated can
didates to hope to change the result by con-
tests.
The remedy for elections of this kind is
nominations. In tie counties in which
nominations were made the only excite
ment was that which was incd-nt to the
mass meetings or primaries. The elections
were held quietly and were free from un-
pleasantAe.s Nori atoms not only secure
quiet elections and ~, vent con osts in most
instances, but they result generally in the
election of better officers. Wien no nomiu-
ations are made tho candidates having The
greatest influence among certain classes of
people are very likely to 10 the successful
ones. Under tue domination system in TINS
state at present the election is virtually
settled in advance. and it is settled By the
people who are quaGa-d, both legally and
intellectually, to decide as to the relative
fitness or office Of the different candidate
for the nomination.
The people, after almost every county
election, SEQ tie importance of making
nominations; but they seem to forget it
before the next election comes round. The
sentiment In favor Of nominations is spread
ing, however, though very gradually, and
it is probable that in time nominations will
be made in nearly if not quite all Of the
counties of the state.
Speaking of Mr.. c. A. Alexandsr's new