The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-04-01
GOOD ROADS.
Let the People Pat Up OF shut W

Let the People Put Up OF shut Up
Editor Press and Banner:
The subject of good roads seems Il
he the question agitatinP the minds O
our people more perhaps during TIT
nast few months than for many year
past. In this caused by the fact OF oul
nuhiic roads being in worse conditior
Than they have been for some year
past? I desire to say, however. from
personal observation that In many
places they have been, and are today
In . very rough aud unsatisfactory
condition.
I have perhaps travelled over more
miles of road In the county than any
other citizen, aud therefore know full
well the complaints Of the people are
not altogether without cause. NJ y Oh
seryatjon IL that more road work wa
done during 1902 than any year during
the history of the county,.
This work was mainly done by
widening and placing an unusual
amount Of dirt In centre Of road beo
The unusually wet weather during the
winter months caused the roads to cut
and become practically impossible In
many places. We have heard numer'
or,s complaints that working the roads
during the Fall mouths Ii largely the
cause Of this trouble, but my expe-
rience is that where much dirt II
place.i In the roads even Ia the Spring
months brings about q like result, a.
al new dirt, especially ON clay roads
being placed on the same In q gran
ulated condition will pack during
Summer months and become smooth
and hard on the surface. but when
they are thoroughly soaked with water
they will cot rs readily as some class
OF roads worked during the Fall
months. Now, Mr.. Editor, II seems
about all the County Commissioners
can do, not to exceed the appropriation
for the present year, ID TO 60 over the
roads and put them In good condition
for Summer travel. During the Sum.
uer months we have frequent remarks
a. to the fiBe condition of our county
rOads. but what Of the Winter? I? BAD
roafIs q in every mans mouth. The
supervisor apd County. Board OF Com
fnlssioners are forcesl % sit or stanG
and listen to the tale, woe from one
weeks end 70 another.
They have now resolved to call on
the people % assemble in convention
IN the city Of Abbsville on Salesday,
the 9Th Of April, for the purpose of Or
xanixieg q County Good Roads Asso-
cintiUn and we tust every citizen In.
tesested on this sdbject will be present
for am sure tha. any reasonable sug
Restion made by the people as to ways
and means az securing good roads will
be eheeffulIy and thankfully received
hy the officers Ia charge.
YOu VIII readily see. therefore, that
very little can bs done with the fund.-
aow available 10 the way OF making
psfmanent improvements, as the ap-
propriation - not more than has been
3or The past several years, and as 1t has
been received by the County Board OF
CommisioneFs not 70 exceed the ap-
PRECIPITATION the present year. which
thsy hope 30 do, as fewer bridges will
have 10 be built, a. far as Ii known nj
present, but it should be understood
by the people that not to do this, no
permanent improvement In our public
highways can be expected.
Ia this connection I desire to call
che attention Of ths public to the law
suthosixing the County Board Of Com
naIssioncrs TO levy an amount not ex-
ceeding one mill on the taxable prop
erty "a any township In the various
counties Of this State on . petition
slgned by two-thlrds Of the ffeebolders
of any township, and funds derived
from iaid levy shall be spent in town.
ships whore leyied.
SO it seems II available funds are all
that b needed to secure some perma-
1elat improvement, the people have
it In their own hands to say whether
or not this shsll be done, 80 we say to
the people, one and all, come to the
Good Roads Convention. 1t will do
you good, II you don't care to talk
yourself, you can hear others talk.
Hon. r. III. Hyatt, Senator A. G. Lati-
ner, Congressman Aiken, and other
promiuenI speakers, have promised to
Be present.