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


:'0th Of this month, the State primary
election will be held The number of
candidates Offering for each of the
various positions to be filled may per-
pick the minds Of majority Of
voters. and induce them to act with
Indifference in performing one Of the
highest obligations, as well rs 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 for
the nan 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
cusscd least Prohibition and the
dispcnsary system are important uucs-
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
m amount almost equal to the entire
State tax levy. We'll Informed au-
thority on the subject states there are
800 600 miles Of public roads in the
United States, over which 800, 600, 900
tons Of freight are hauled annually
and it is figured that t. .otal cost Of
this hauling, estimating the average
distance from the farm TO the depot to
be eight miles, is 81 ,O00, ,000, 900, or
$500 per ton.
The claim is made by the same au-
thority that with uniformly good pub
lie roads the cost of hau ing from the
farm to the depot should not be more
than $400,000,000, or 5000, 900, 900
less than what it is ut prcscnt-a re-
duction Of more than one-half.
in Anderson County VIC liavo l.509
miles Of public rouds, and upon the
condition of these roads depends ci
thcr cash saving in the pockets of
the farmers many times greater than
the taxes he is required to pay. or nh
indirect tax resulting from unnccessa-
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 ut
Anderson, but reasonable estimate
Of cost to haul cotton can be arrived
at. The cotton receipts ut Anderson
will average, say $4,000 bales, equal
to $4,000 tons, which, at the above
estimate of $500 per ton, will cost
$160, 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
q 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
| ,ooo thok &c = .oJ,,ox:or oe ,o,x -,
hauling of more than onc-half can be
brought about by an improved condi-
tion of the public roads, thus saving
annually not less than SIZE, 900 to on,
farmers, the main question in the ar-
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 nation very
largely depend. While the penalty ol
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 80 fran
ed since 1895 that there can be nc
other excuse for bad public roads tha,
gross neglect or inefiiciency of Count,
Supervisors. The law furnishes ever,
: facility, asking the Counties to fur
nish the brains only
This County is to be congratulated
l upon the progress it has made in bet
! tcring the condition Of our publ,
roads. If we are co. o.rectly Informed
Anderson County has led all othe
Counties in this State in this impor
} tant work, but the initiation step
; only have as yet been taken. The tw,
first years just closing have simpl,