The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1894-02-22
Roads and Bottom Lands.

EDITOR UNION:-I see call. in last |
weeks issue of your paper, for a meeting |
of ''all parties interested in good roads
ard the improvement of bottom lands /.
in Scotland county" What a happy /
thought. Y no. or what. suggested the !
idea to you? Yes. that is just the thing
to break the mOnotony Of these hard
times. and divert our attention from the
gauut. hungry wolf that stands with
glaring eyes at our doors. Why not
petition our Hon. County Court to issue
bonds of the county for at least FIVE hum
dred Thousand dollars: an amount that
would go long way toward defraying
the expenses of the contemplated i'm
provements.
We live in one of the best states in
the union ard Scotland is among the
best counties of the state. Then with
all our public and private roads. and
cow-paths too. nicely graded, would not
our county fairly glitt-r. And then. the
old. sluggish Fabius rivers that wind
their way diagonally through the coun-
ty like so many huge serpents and now
and then. like some of our Hon" citi-
zens, getting on high and damaging
the community.-wh not straighten
them out and let the surplus water pass
harmlessly away and thus enhance the
value of our rich lands? If we are a
progressive people. let us move in this
matter at once. and if. in our meeting,
we find any professional hickers. anOth-
er name for mugwums and Populist
men. let US rule them out of order and
not let them get the floor. unless they
get it by being ''tloored." for they will
say. 1t is the 'bonds' that are wanted
and not the Improvements"
II you acknowledge they are correct
do not speak above a whisper. and if
they say our Carlisles have no right to
issue the bonds. that they would be
worthless (the bonds. not the COURT do
not dispute with them. for that would
not make a ''dif OF bitterance" to Us. SO
we get the bonds from the hands OF our
distinguished court. out of the county
and into the Lands of innocent holders.
The kichers may say the bonds could
not be collected. What nonsense. just
there is where tie most interesting and
profitable part of the whole transaction
would come in. Could not the holders
let the contract to some of our home tai
cnt: Most assuredly. Do you ask how
the work could thus be accomplished:
How long have you lived in Scotland
. county: Arc you not aware that the
courts would help out in the matter il
E it was Interesting to them? Could moi
the bonds be compromised and Lawful
, bonds had in exchange for the fraudu
lent ones? Do you ask how a conlprO
, mise could be had? Buy it, of course
, Would not this be Il species of robbery
and would not the robbers be indicted
and punished? Not m-u-c-h. it would
only add to their popularity and qualify
: them FOR filling some lucrative Office
: Could not our local offices be filled with
: men that like PIE so our grand jurie.
e would be composed. in part at least. o
: men who would stand in with the gans
h and see that no indictments were had:
Il Yes. such men could be kept cOntinu
ally thus on guard and the masses 0
our people would tame!y submit to b,
o robbed and tramplcd in the dust an.
ID would hardly dare to say their lives ar
{ their own.
: Then. come out and let us talk tn
: subject up and have the work Inaugural
ted az once.
\ PROGRESSIONEST