The morning news., 1889-05-20
Good Roads.

tine lSOUtfbcIR - - CttAtt'Ne"O'' ~N -
= one of enlightenment, civilization and
,,rogress. If closely analysed, however, 1t
I.;Ii snnear that this enlightenment, clyll-
ua+io1 and progress, follows close IN the
-oLe of improved facilities for transporta-
zion In the elrlier ages of the world, CIV
I;zstion followed the shores OF the sea, for
.,o+ was the worlds great highway.
In the east, where travelling was mostly
..rforned on beasts of burden, certain
rack was pursued and travelling was done
Nv caravans. At 4 very early period in the
history OF the east there were marked out
rnes of inter-communicationr running from
land to land and binding distant nations to-
,,o+bar These lines ran from east to west,
e. heing the line on which trade and civ
iEzation ran. AS populationincreased, and
their wants enlarged, the demand for i'm
nroved roads and modes of transportation
kept pace.
That there were roads of some kind in
Palestine at a very early period is apparent
from the language employed in the Scrip
tures. Can there be a more graphic de-
scription of the operations and results con-
rected with the formation of a long and
innortant road than is found in Isaiah 40th
chapter 3rd versei "PFepare ye the way of
the Lord, make straight in the desert
highway for our God. Every valley shall
he exalted, and every mountain and hill
shall be made low, and the crooked shall he
made straight and the rough places plain"
No such imagery would have been used by
the poet had there been no artificial roads in
Palestine. The Jews were familiar with
such imagery. That these highways were
akin to our modern roads, is evident. The
Jews were commanded to open a free and
good passage to the cities of refuge. The
learned Jewish historian Josephus, says in
his antiquities: Solomon did not neglect
the care of the ways, but he laid cause
way of black stone (basaltl along the roads
that led to Jerusalem, both to render them
easv for travellers and to manifest the
grandeur of his riches"
The Romans formed roads and set up
mile-stones in Palestine in imitation of
what they had done in Italy. To-day the
roads of the east show the skill of their con-
strllction 5000 years ago. Shall it be said
that Georgia is not equally as enlightened
and civilized as the Romans and Jews 5000
years agos
The progress in arts, sciences, commerce
and manufactures demands at the hands of
of the present generation:
I. A permanent system of public roads.
O. Permanent improvement of public
roads.
Not only moro rapid transportation, but
cheaper transportion is required Competi-
ton is so sharp that profits are too small to
permit handling of small loads. If horse
could haul 500 pounds years ago prohtably
10 the producer, he must now haul l 900
pounds 10 make it equally as remunera-
tive.
The present style mot system) of making
n the public roads is a tax without any
benefit. Even if every hand worked the
full limit of the law, fifteen days, no prac-
tical good would result from his labors. The
near approach of court forces out the road
overssers, and the road is run over to make
it passable The first rain wipes out the
work or makes the road worse than it was
before.
The need OF the hour is properly con-
structed road on a system that will be per-
manent and the improvements put on it
of a permanent character. Why good
roads are needed:
We are changing from big plantations to
small farms; from the all-cotton, expensive
system, to the diversified crop and intensive
system; from all credit to all-cash. We
need to sell off part of our land to cut off
taxation on unproductive capital. We need
every facility to get our produce to market
expeditiously. Without goodkoads immi-
grafton is al impossbility; without small
farms diversified crops cannot be success
fully produced In order then to get
the Immigrant, and introduce the small
farmer on the small farm, good roads are
Indispensable. On the score of progress,
thrift, economy aud humanity, a perma-
nent system of permanent improved roads,
Is the imperative necessity OF the hour.
Throughout the entire south deeper and
keener interest than ever before is mani
tested on this important theme. The public
hnnd Is directed very pointedly in this di-
rection and cannot be diverted from it.
A writer in the Troy, CTenn.) Ne1Cs Ban
ner says; "Nlnety per cent. of the coun-
Ties OF the state haven't decent highways"
The New Orleans Times Democrat says:
tennessee is agitating the question of how
70 get good country roads 1t is a problem
not Tor Tennessee alone, but for the entire
south. There is not a southern state which
mas sufficient roads, and hitherto the subject
mas been altogether neglected"
Inc Marietta, CGa) journal says: Good
roads are Indispensable to the citizen aud
4arher In his travels to and from market
WIN MS cotton, wood and produce. The
present roads are woefully bad, and there
should be system devised by which they
should be improved. Mud holes, washouts
ana high hills almost render our roads i'm
paSsable. Good, solid road beds should be
constructed, and the money so spent would
oe well spent. Good roads enhance the
Vaue OF property and save the wear of We
ulcieS and enable animals to do better serv-
ice. Give US better roads"
Inc public roads Of the south need much
Improvement, and no time should be lost in
ueViSlag effective methods Of bettering
'Aelr condition. With this end in view, a
.uinoer OF prominent citizens of Georgia
nave invited the people Of the several coun-
'''S OF the state to sead delegates to a road
congress, to be held in Atlanta on May % to
consider the suhiact of ip,oroyad bi,b