The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1901-02-16
GRENADA's GREATEST NEED.
win Our People Take Advaniage.of 1t, or
Continue in the Old Rutf

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Grenada needs manufacturing enter
prises new industries, more capital,
more citizens and more enterprise, but
our first and foremost need Is better
roads leading TO the town. The
i'm portauce of this is not sufficient,
realized by our people, and unit. it lie
we will not thrive as we would under
the proper conditions. We are glad
that Judge McCool brought the
attention of the grand jury to this
matter. and his words on the subject
are worthy of thought and rememb-
rance. He said in part:
Good roads and public highways
are indices OF II splendid, progressive.
christian civilization. A stranger
travelling through Il country having
imperfect roads would regard that
country as good n to move from
rather than to move to. A good y
system is as essential to the welfare OF
the people and the community as the
school houses and the churches them
selves. In the winter time the over
seer's excuse for failure to work the
roads Is hat the weather is too inclem-
eut and swet to do SO. and his excuse
10 good dry weather is that they do
not need work. These frivolous
excuses result in leaving the roads
usually in a bad shape. On examina-
ton Of the road book In the office OF
the chancery clerk YOU will find that
every district in the county OF Gree
nada has assigned to it sufficient
number of men TO keep it in splendid
repair II the road overseer would only
faithfully perform his duties, and he
would not be required to work his men
the Limitation of law Of ten days per
year. The truth about the matter is,
while the new contract system OF
working the public highways may be
preferable to the old system so long In
operation in this state, yet, ii the
present old law on roads is properly
enforced there would be no fault or
complaint found against the roads.
The Circuit Judges practically ignore
the law, the Board OF Supervisors
nominally appoint an overseer and
assign his proportional lumber OF
hands to the district and he will FORM
ally, with his men, pass over his
district twice a year, 10 most instances
pretending to work, but in Tact ou'
lutte is done"
The Judge then asked the grand
jury To Investigate the record OF the
work Of the overseers and to indie
those who had failed in their duty.
1t is unjust to lay all the blame upor
the road overseers, for their task is
thankless one, and the people are
unresponsive and unappreclative o
their efforts. 1t should be the
pleasure OF every citizen to willingl,
do his share Of road work, for eacl
citizen is an interested party who viii
receive direct benefits from the better
meut OF the roads. Our business me
should feel alive TO this impvrton
question, for their prosperity depend
upon che easy access Of the countr.
people to the town in all seasons OF the
year, II the roads are bad the farmer
will haul their products to othe
markets which they "a reach will
more ease. The farmers, too, snoul'
unite with the people OF the town, fo
good roads save them money and i'm
prove the value of their lands. In tn
past we have lost much trade which
ours by right because the people coul
not reach Grenada over some roads q
certain times of the year. This trad
can be regained by improving on
highways, and besides, trade that la
never been ours can be secured In tn
, way. The business men OF the tow
5 and the residents of the county gu
, side the town should unite and devils
q ways and means for the betterment
. the roads, Committees sh ould |
It appointed, funds should be raised
e prosecute the work and the road owe
seers should be lent encouragemeI
and assistance in the performance
their duties.
1t is a question which presses II
attention, and unless given SUI
attention we lag behind the car
progress and fail in the most lmporta
duty we owe ourselves as a commuuii
Tho Xayno Citv Gaptipa1 uiyaa Al