The broad ax., 1898-09-10


bad roads prevent our children frr~
going to school during the winter
months and the result Is that We
have q great deal OF illiteracy. The
mails are few and necessarily slow, 90
that we are entirely out Of touch with
the world and all that Is going on In
II FreIghts are also very high. II
costs IS cents a hundred pounds to
hanl freight from London to Manehes-
ter. and to Hyden. the county seat Of
Letcher county, 1t costs rs cents hum
dred.
Owing to the poor roads. very little
work can be done In the winter, and
1.-THE eneforced idieness breeds Ignorance
and crime. Many of our people spend
their dreary winter days and nights In
making and drinking moonshine whis-
key, and this often results In shoot
ings and killings, and often starts
feuds. II we had better roads we would
have more and better schools. there
would be fewer illiterates, and our
people would have something else to
think about besides shooting and kill
ing. We have many bright young
people here In the mountains, but they
have no opportunities and the bad
roads keep them at home. so they US
ually drift into feuds and often be-
come outlaws. Bad roads are the bane
of the mountains, and they cause all
the feuds."
The Rev. ]. ]. Dickey, a Methodist
minister who has been working among
the mountain people for fifteen or
twenty years, and who has studied
their character closely, thinks the only
hope Of the people in this benighted
part OF the state lies In more edu-
cation and better roads. It has been
suggested to use the convicts In build
ing highways through the mountains,
instead Of allowing them to remain In
the penitentiary engaged in pursuits
which keep thousands Of workmen who
are not criminals from having employ
ment Putting the convicts to work
on the roads Of the mountains would
present the curious spectacle OF crinl-
inals civilizing hereditary law break
for the health OF the eonvicts. and at
the same time It would give the noun
taineers that contact with the outside
world which seems to be necessary to
prevent them from sinking still lower
in the scale of civilization Religion
does not afford the necessary relief,
Mr.. Dickey says. 1t Is true that the
people are quick to embrace religion,
but they do not grasp the full import
OF its meaning. and IL tails to have
the restraining influence which is sup
posed tc characterize religion. AS an
instance, 1t may be cited that BAL"
Howard. leader of one Of the factions
in the Baker-Howard feud. is a strict
church member and a Freemason, and
Tom Baker leader of the other fac
ton, is also a member and a Free
mason.
AS there seem to be so many diner
emit opinions as to the causes OF the
feuds in Kentucky, II is to be inferred
that they are the result Of various
causes, which the persons interviewed
have clearly pointed out. A concerted
effort will be made at the next session
of the Kentucky legislature to have
roads built through the mountains by
the convicts, and an effort will be
made to establish and maintain more
and better schools in the parts OF the
state which have produced so many
bloody feuds.
It Is believed that good roads and
good schools will regulate the forty
FIVE" to the rear. and cause the noun
taineers to come into closer contact
with the law and with civilizing in
fluences. F. R. RILEY.