Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1901-03-07
THOUSANDS FOR GOOD ROADS BUT NOT
AGENT FOR PIG PATHS.

/ Juere lS every lnulCdHOh anu pIeCtu'H'
to load one TO expect the usual object
ions to appear
No matter what reform or improve
mcnt be proposed, whether in church
or state. the chronic obstructionst VIII
surely be heard from sooner or later,
generally later-too late to avert possi-
bic disaster but just in time to plunge
bis more progressive fellowman into
complications otherwise unavoidable.
Some diversity Of honest opinion may
be expected owing to diversity of view
points and personal interest but there
are men who are afh cted with chronic
| opposition 70 the popular trend, espec-
tally in the direction of improvement.
There are two pplrcntly valid points
of objection cited against issuing bonds
for the construction Of county roads, but
both are conditional and one is wholly
avodahle, lst Dishonesty, or inc III
crency on the part Of management, thus
diverJing the money from the purpose
| intended, viz, the production of road
way--road-making not money-making
by contractors and officials, End. EN-
Shaving" the people for thirty years by
the taxes necessary to pay these bonds
and interest. The amount named has
also been subject to criticism.
Answering the latter question, it will
l.. 1. \ 1, - Nf
900 was named as a maximum amount
| and if the roads can be built at a less
figure, the presumption is that the
! bonds will be sold to that amount only
as needed, and as directed by the com
missioners.
As general thing estimates fall short
Of actual requirements and unless we
can have good roads we do not wish to
be pecially taxed for little bett'r than
our present trails--trials, if properly
pronounced.
We want good roads, and that means
that all>hills shall be reduced and put
whore they belong, viz, in the low
/
our way among the rocks and boulders
OF the hillside we want the road moved
to lower average aud we don't want to
turn corners sharper than bout face
to get to our destination.
Such roads will cost money and like
star-boardars buster they will be
worth it.
The time required to reduce a hill is
small matter compared to the time
and labor required to pull up and bold
back the load passing over that same
hill in the course of only one Jear.
The relative cost of filling a mud-holt
aud the damage and delay caused by
is proportonally divergent.
Having come to the conclu sion tina
better roads are not only desirable bu
more economical, and therefore ab
solutely necessary to place US in posi-
tion of equality with other civilize,
communities, there can be no question
as to the propriety and justice OF the
act submitted with proper amendments
While bonds may enslave us for thirt
years that is preferable to perpetual en-
slavement under the old road tax.
presume that relic of disgraceful pas
will be annulled under which the poo
man often gave from two to three pc
cent of his labor which is bis capital
,,rl; IN
give only from two or three dollar
out OF total of $40, coo or $50, O0O Th
poor man was allowed to walk the roa
it he could afford to take day off t
loaf so luxuriously while his more faI
ored fellow-citizen suffered the exhiler
alton of being bumped over "rocks an
rills thy woods and tenn pied hills" Oh
my country, until arriving at his jou
neys end he would feel like glass
well-mixed milk-shake.
Under the proposed act the burden
: the tax will fall directly upon the ma
of property and corporations, telephon
telegraph and railroad companies, al
= the poor man will be given employmen
Work will be plentiful in the count
and wages correspondingly high.
. The poor man is certainly blind If
opposes this measure. The same m;
i, be said of the corporations, telephon
telegraph and railroad managers if th,
oppose any move that tends to upbui
l. the material interests Of the coun
: tributing to their businesS-they W
all be benefited by reason Of the gre
prosperity enjoyed by their patrons, t
Is general public.
,r As to the possible dishonesty or inc
10 cheney Of the management all C
say is that there seems to be
" doubt that ineifciency and even d
N honesty has had big hand in our 70
ct work Of the past but official dishones
and inehiciency has not been v,
large mote compared to the gigan
beam Of ineficieucy and dishonei
welded by the people on one snoth
a. This know from actual observation
Ut not experience except in the fact G
We the greater part Of the money .hi
'l- paid as a direct road tax, has been wa
.93' ed by work done at the most unfay