The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-02-28
ROAD IMPROVEMENT.
q Tho I.nriSlntIlre:

Virginia and Kentucky, with other
stoteS of the new South, are heavily taxed,
and in other ways retarded by the turn
nike road system. On their roads corpora
lions construct toll gates, and as IN ral-
road traffic enjoy unqualified monopoly
Poor people are thus kept from town, po-
litical gatherings and other resorts OF So
cial gain. But no man even there paSs so
GREAT n tax as he who travels bad roads
On them some of his horses, his harness,
his vehicle and his time are irretrleVaDiy
ost-uncompensated. So much fof our
state governments that have either ignored
the demand for good roads or have shut
ded the burden of constructing the u on
to corporations. a..
Texas both owns and operates her uft
roads, but is not yet made glorious IN II;
Imagine one of our ordinarily equipped
road gangs with horse pl0W, az az
a hoe and spade heaping, rallroaG oeI.
Road hands being thus ill supplied win
objective tools, do not wonder at thelr
idleness becoming proverbial. East Ie$as
wants other than cast plows to cut cray
banks, and the Great Black Belt neeoS iIl-
netus in macadamizing True few Of our
municipal governments as Travis and Col-
lin counties and many cities have con
| structed some desirable highways, put
commonly out of town roads are retrehlS
and reservoirs in falling weather ana
cutters and sand bars in dry. Bad roads
cripple industry and obstruct the diffusion
of knowledge. They lie between the farmer
and his market, between the voter and the
| nOlls between the church and the WorN
| sinner. between the school house anu the
home and between neighbors. Then 10 lg-
more the economical advantages II we
think truth and virtue are in the least
contagious, let us remove this impeachment
| to mans closer communion.
But how are we to better our roads 10
supplement our labor tax with effective
roads and convict labor is doing much,
but still we have no skilled, respon sible
leader TO see the labor we'll directed IraN-
is county and others have the county Judge
at the head of the road system, but ne IS
not supposed to know much OF the busl'
ness, besides his time is otherwise oc-
cupied. The plan suggested, thar we nave
an engineer in every senatorial dlStrlct'
| is quite an improvement on what we nave,
but it is inadequate. We need a skilled en-
gineer in every county 1t takes money 10
procure his services, and that is scarce
article in this demonetized silver age.
Then to purchase skill, while we econo-
mize, let us use the poorly employed sur.
veyor as enGineer; add the function OF road
engineer to his office and pay him salary
for his labOrs. What are the benefit aG-
cruing from such a renovationy We would
have an expert at the head of a gang 10
repair bad ways, and thus set examples
for road bosses. He could counsel with
commissioners as to ways and mean for
lettering the present order of roads aud
lastly he might enlist private intereac III
the cause. Under our present system me
strict road boss makes enemies, ana Cne AK
supervisor talzative, shade hunters and
cnviable fence riders. But such would not
, be the case with the boss that does ms
duty could he shift the responsibility n
part on an enthusiastic engineer. JUS MS
perfecting of system is needed, just ms
fixing of responsibility, labor would seem
less arduOus, streets would extend through
and into the country and road hands would
wisely see what benefits all benefits the
individual. At the press of button our
foods would move off for the pantries 0t
consumers, and at their demand our cot
ton would fly away through the looms to
cover shame and give warmth to shlvering
limbs. Such intimate touch would enable
us to control our markets, and good roads,
President J. S. Dougherty's computation
made at the good roads convention NJ
Houston on the LIST inst, would reduce tht
cost of the wagon transportation 81 leFa'
cotton So, 700, 900 yearly.
Not only would we rejoice financially
our social web would be woven closer
roads would be shortened by being bet
tered Like prairie folks, our dry big meet
, ing days we would be going and coming
The tendency would be to drive the her
nit from his cold, dull page to read Tx
L countenances of men. Town and country
: would tend to blend. Theshy, retiring maiC
i of the country would receive touch o.
I city polish. The gay society fiirt could SCI
her consort in the red ribboned Plilbs
The high-collared dude might entwin'
about his neck the red bandana Of tbs
rustic lover. The farmer everyNher,
needs something of the city, and the stiff
e burgher should visit the unostenta iiuu
8 country homes, and from their wild, limp
streams drink to sober earnestness. lie
!. the contrasts of Texas meet-the fttes
t will survive. Let the war of civilization b
S waged. Let the art of town and mature @
+ the country make a fit medley of charaC
n ter to ornament our Texas.
Texas wants better roads. Why drai
e the mire and filth of earth when ston,
y cleanliness invites your tread? But it mat
T tiers not whether they be rough, rocky
q macadamized or straight dirt, their heav
q ing breast must support on high the grea
Texans that pass their way.
(Signedl-An Aspiring HoOsier Tha
Would Visit Town.
20 TREASURY STATEMENT.