Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1902-07-30

| Oh tne great questions OF the n0ur
(and well it might beg we would like
to give few of our thoughts upon
this matter. Not that we own SC
many large farms, broad acres and
other property in the county that is
to be benefited by them, for we are
poor and possess but very little of
this worlds goods, but, seeing the
necessity for better roads and the
great advantage they are, prompts
me to say that we will never have
them until there is change in the
law in regard to the Commissioners,
anu he necessary labor and expense
required in putting (and maintaining)
the public highways in good condi-
tion, so we will suggest plan by
which we think we will have better
roads and will do justice by all.
And that is for the Legislature to
say that all bodied men from
the age of 1S to As years shall work
two days or pay commutation road
tax of one dollar per year, and what
this lacks of keeping the public
roads in good condition give the
Board of Commissioners, which shall
consist of one member from each
township in the county, power to
levy and collect from the entire as.
sessment of all property in each
county of the State taxes sufficient
to keep and maintain the public
highways and bridges in good condi-
tion, and allow said Commissioners
for their services not less than $1.5O
per day and no mileage, and each
Commissioner not TO serve more
than 124 days per annum, if 80 many
be necessary, and all to meet at the
county seat at least once month,
and not more than twice each mo- /.
during the year, and on the first oay
of January each year all to meet at
the Court House and elect from their
number chairman with power only
to call meetings and preside over
same. Said board shall, at all of it's
meetings, have power to transact
any business that may arise, provided
majority of said Commissioners be
present at each meeting. The said
Commissioners shall, by a majority
OF votes cast on the first day of
January each year, elect some one
not a member of the board or related
to any member of the board clerk,
fully competent, whose duty it shall
be to truthfully and honestly record
all acts, levies and expenditures of
said board at each meeting of same {;
said clerk for his services shall re-
ceive not more than three dollars
per day for said services, and no
mileage.
Now, Messrs. Editors, this is only
an outline of my plan, and as 10 the
further duties and restrictions of
said Commissioners that can be fixed
in the event of such thing ever
being enacted into law.
Now we will give our reasons for
such plan, and that the commuta-
ton road tax should be only one dol
lar or two days work. Because one
dollar is enough for a poor boy or
man to pay, and, by all means,
where that poor boy or man can't
raise the dollar he ought to 10 al
lowed at least so cents per day for
his labor. Now as to putting a tax
on the poor mans property as we'll
as the rich mans: | think that ia
nothing but equity and justice, as
the poor man uses the roads as we'll
as the rich man. But the poor man
does not need them as bad or do
they benefit the poor as much as the
rich, hence the justice of the rich
paying more to maintain our public
highways, but above it all it is good
roads that we need, so that when a
farmer wishes to carry lot of cot
ton or farm produce to market he
can haul twice as much with less
strain on his team and wagon as now,
thus saving time and all which is
money. Also, when the rich man
wishes to take a ride out into the
country or to town he will have o
good road over which to travel, and
he and family not liable to be thrown
out of the carriage and some one
hurt or killed, as it is now. Under
this plan we can't see where the rich
or poor will have any right to COM
plain of any injustice.