Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1900-02-01
Now, as to this contract business,


Now, as to this contract business,
| did not like it myself, and that is
the cause of the roads being in the
fix they are today. These contrac-
tors did just rs | or Mr.. Werner
would have donc-got their pay
with just as little work as possible.
If the Supervisor and Commissioners
had appointed good ovcrsccrs on the
roads and had paid them fair wages,
the roads would have been in better
condition to-day. The plan worked
well before the contract system was
inauguratcd and it would again. But
then everybody is liable to make
mistakes, even when he thinks he is
doing the best he can. That is the
way we look at this present road
law. We think Mr.. Werner did it
through mistake, rs he assumes
the responsibility for it.
Now, Mr.. Werner says his friend
at Retreat should be willing to join
in for that which is good for all the
people. That is just what | am i'll
for, and | can't see why my plan is
not just as good as Mr.. Ncrncr's,
though we "1ittle" farmers ought not
to say anything about this law-mak-
ing business, and always accept the
law rs it is dealt out to us, and plow
on to make something to support
the law makers, and be pleased with
whatever comes, and always stand
ready to send them back again at
each election.
Now few words to Mr.. Cook.
He says we can't reasonably expect
Mr.. Werner to satisfy the people, for
God did not satisfy them when there
was only two, and now there are
three thousand in Oconcc and they
have had thousands Of years to get
worse in. No, did not expect it,
nor | still don't expect it. don't
think lie could satisfy Mr. Cook from
the way he writes. But then he is
after the same classes am, but he
did not know it. Now, to his first
class--thc colorcd population-I say
let AS many of them pay out as will
at 81 80 each, without the tax on the
other little property he talks of, and
then put the money in the hands Of
some good man that knows how to
work employees and '"t him hire
hands and work the roads, and then
you will get more work out Of one
negro than you would with two OF
these fellows if they were working
their own time. Can't you sec your
mistake, brother? If the LcgiSla-
turc is going to make an onc-sidcd
law ut all, it ought to make every
man liable to road duty pay $3.50
and not have any work in it, and
then we would get rid Of these dead
beats on the road who don't care for
anything but to put in their time.
Now Mr.. Cook says we have a
class of young white men in our
county who have no property, and
some Of them will spend their last
dollar to splurge on. | am after
these same boys, for they would not
be caught on the road if there was
any way out of it. SO say let
them pay $3.50, for their money
would do more work than they
would, and be a great deal less trou-
bic to the oycrsccr. If we have got
any of that kind in the county
don't know them, but guess they
stay close to Mr.. Cooks, and maybe
around his own iircsidc. don't
know but there is one thing do
know, there are none on this side of
the county. And if he has them
want him to keep them, for don't
want them scattered over the county,
Now, as to his third class, the old
gray haircd citizens who nave
worked hard all their lives. Now
guess this applies to Mr.. Cook and,
Of course, he is like all other men
who want the county TO ust carry
them along on ilowrry beds of ease
Now what is wrong about taxing the
property to make good roads? Don't
good roads advance the value OF
property, no matter where it is :
Don't these same old honest men
like to travel good roads us well as
young men? Don't Mr.. Cook want
Il good road by his little farm ana to
town? or course he does, and it is
nothing but Just and right for him to
help build them, but he wants to
poke the young mans nose to the
grindStonc and let himself go free
| want some one to tell me what is
right about that. But then men