Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-09-12

Il
4 The vote this week stands a. follows
Mary HannsnA shaw, Paris. lss<
nlAsehs 6. Dsan, South Parts, -. ISs(
! OUR TOWN HIGHWAYS.
IA CORRESPONDENT WHO FINDS A
MANIFEST LACK or "Goop ROADS
| IN PARIS.
Editor Democrat:
Last summer, while temporarily stop
ping In this town, the outrageous condi-
ton Of some Of the town roads caused
me to mentslly resolve that would zee
some Of the town officials regarding the
same and inquire whether there was no,
some way Of having them repaired, OF
put In = condition which would render
them safe to travel upon, but on n fec
ton came 10 the conclusion that they
would not be allowed to continue Ia
such shape through another year. Upon
again visiting the town this summer,
sm disappointed 10 not realizing my hope,
for II appesrs that the roads are In even
. worse condition, IL that be possible,
than they were year ago.
l assume at the beginning that Il Is
the duty Of each town to keep It's high
ways in condition fit for travel; that
Ia, each community owes to the traveller
upon its highways the duty Of keeping
the same Ia condition ft for safe travel.
This proposition 10 so elementary that
presume need not further enlarge upon
IL.
Is the town Of Paris fulfilling It's duty
10 this respect: Let the roads answer
for themselves. Many of them, especial
iy In billy localities, are filled with small
rolling stones liable TO throw horse and
result In serious dsmsge. Others have
immense stones In the middle Of the road
projecting several inches above the sur
face.
Some OF the bridges appear to be
patched In very peculiar way, and 10
such manner As TO suggest 10 the OBJ
server that lumber was extremely high
10 price. the bridge over the river In the
village resembling very much a patch
work quilt.
I desire to call especial attention to
cross road about one mile 10 length,
leadiag from the main road between
Paris and Oxford, over what II known
IS Whitney Hill, 70 road nearly parallel
with Il and from what Ii known as the
Hebron road. This road, to my per-
sonal knowledge, has received absolute
ly no repair for several years, and At
present Is 10 . highly dangerous coDdi.
ton. assume from appearances that
IL has been closed, though there 10 no
sign at either end stating such 70 be the
fact. understand that until recently II
has been a public highway for fifty years
and upwards. What the result 10 .
stranger entering upon this road In ie-
norsnce Of It's condition and driving
thereon distance Of quarter OF u mile
would be, no one can foresee, but that II
would result dissstrousiy 10 evident.
AT one end Of this road lives tax
payer OF this town, who informs me that
few years since, when he purchased
his present residence and went there to
live. his family then In part consisting
Of three children, the only road TO the
school house WAS In an impossible con-
dition. and that it Was only upon bis
urgent solicitations that the same Was re-
paired and put In condition for travel In
order that his children might attend
school; and that since that time the
other cross road above mentioned has re-
ceived no attention.
This mans nearest neighbor lives
about one mile distant, and their short
est and natural means Of Communication
Is the cross road above mentioned, which
IL unsafe, but which, were II properly
repaired, would afford them communics-
ton by road about one mile In length.
Now he may proceed distance Of about
three miles, or nearly 10 South Paris
village, thence proceeding back, but In .
slightly different direction over what has
heretofore been referred to a. the Whit |
new Hill road q distance OF three miles
more, making II necessary for him TO |
travel distance Of ak miles 10 reach |
his nearest neighbor. Or, he may pro- |
coed 10 another direction ~ follows:
Taking the road past his house and 60 |
ing into the town OF Oxford TO cross
road recently built by said town, thence
by that road distance OK
about two miles 10 where IL connects
with the aforementioned Whitney Hill
road, thence proceeding back again on
the said road q distance Of about two |
miles, making IL necessary for him 70
travel a distance Of between four and
i've miles by this route 70 reach his
nearest neighbor; and all this at the
dawn of the Twentieth Century, and be- |
cause somebody thinks II uuwise TO ex-
pend sum Of not over a per year to
keep In repair road which has from
time immemorial been public highway.
Some Of the above mentioned facts
might afford food for reflection to the
ooservant citizen. I sm informed that
the pres mt state Of affairs regarding the
highways Ia this town IL due 20 de-
sire to economize. IL such be the case,
IL becomes Il question whether or not
this Is true economy. IL by reason OF q
defect 10 the highway traveller thereon
receives injuries which the town might
by some possibility be obliged TO make
good, who shall say that the amount
thus called for might not be more than
the amount which has been saved by
leaving the roads In their present condi-
ton? That the town has not been called
upon ID pay damages IL, to my mind,
and the writer trusts that
the roads will soon be put In such con-
dition As will render accident through
defect therein impossible, as II seems to
him that so progressive town as Paris,
and one In which the tax rate IL as high
as here, should pride itself upon having
good roads.
In conclusion, l desire to say that this