The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-08-24
Public Roads in the Primary Election.

Mr.. EDITOR: On Iuesoay next, tne
3Oth of this month, the State primary
election will be held. The number Of
candidates Offering for each of the
various positions to be filed may per-
plex the minds Of majority OF
voters, and induce them to act with
Indifference in performing one of the
highest obligations, as we'll as one Of
the highest privileges, Of government
A failure to promptly decide upon the
man frequently results in neglect of
important measures. This should not
be. Measures, not men, should be
the primary consideration but every
man should vote, and cast his vote Tor
the man who, in his judgment, is best
fitted for the position.
Among the many questions to be
submitted to the people, there is not
one Of graver Importance to the voters
than the one which pertains to public
roads, and yet it appears to be dis
cussed least. Prohibition and the
system are important ques-
tions, but public roads-good public
roads-mean more, vastly more, in our
humble judgment, than either Of them.
The question of public roads carries
with it not only the possibility, but
the great probability, Of an annual
saving to Anderson County alone of
an amount almost equal to the entire
State tax levy. Well informed au-
thority on the subject states there are
800, 900 miles of public roads in the
United States, over which 500, 1000, 600
tons Of freight are hauled annually,
and it is figured that the total cost OF
this hauling, estimating the average
distance from the farm to the depot to
be eight miles, is $1,000, 900, 900, or
$500 per ton.
The claim is made by the same au-
thority that with uniformly good pub
lie roads the cost Of hauling from the
farm to the depot should not be more
than 100000, 900, or s60O,OOO, 900
less than what it is at present. re-
duction Of more than one-half.
In Anderson County we have 1000
miles Of public roads, and upon the
Of these roads depends Ell
ther cash saving in the pockets of
the farmers many times greater than
the taxes he is required TO pay or an
indirect tax resulting from unnecessa-
ry cost Of hauling, due to bad roads,
sufficient to bread his family.
We have not been able to ascertain
the number of tons Of farm products
hauled from the farms to the depot at
Anderson, but a reasonable estimate
Of cost to haul cotton can be arrived
at. The cotton receipts at Anderson
will average, say $4,000 bales, equal
to $4,000 tons, which, at the above
estimate Of $500 per ton, will cost
$3.50, 900 to haul it. To this must be
added other farm products and the
farm supplies hauled from the depots
to the farm, Of which fertilizers form
a considerable amount. The hauling
over the public roads in Anderson
County can scarcely be less in cost
than $3.50, 900, estimated at $500 per
ton, and from this it can readily be
seen that if reduction Of cost in
hauling Of more than one-half can be
brought about by an improved condi-
ton of the public roads, thus saving
annually not less than s175, 900 to our
farmers, the main question in the ap-
preaching election lies close to every
voters door.
Public roads are the arteries Of the
nation just as much as are the railway
systems, and upon their condition
must the prosperity of a nation very
largely depend. While the penalty Of
bad public roads is visited primarily
upon the farmer, it affects ultimately
every Industrial, commercial and agri-
cultural interest of the nation.
The laws of this State are so FRAN
ed since 1895 that there can be no
other excuse for bad public roads than
gross neglect or ineficiency Of County
Supervisors. The law furnishes every
facility, asking the Counties to fur
nish the brains only.
This County is to be congratulated
upon the progress it has made in bet
tering the condition of our public
roads. If we are correctly Informed,
Anderson County has led all other
Counties in this State in this impor-
tant work, but the initiation steps
only have as yet been taken. The two
first years just closing have simply