The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1903-05-13
THE PUBLIC poADs.
Contractors williamson and Evans Make
a Statement.

Editor LEADER Having seen
several communications in your
valuable paper in reference to
"us" as contractors and the way
we are working the roads, we will
ask that you kindly publish the
following, which is part of our
views on the subject:
We want to tell the people how
we are treated and how we feel.
Every one knows that some'peo-
pie in the county have "cussed"
and abused the contractors and
Board of Supervisors ever since
the contract system was adopted.
In regard to this we will say that
we think the main cause of this is
that old $500 they have to pay.
Now we want to tell the people
how the Board of Supervisors
have treated us. We do not ex-
pect the board to favor US more
than they have agreed to do.
Verbally, it was understood that
we were to have two years to put
the second class roads up accord
ing to plans and specifications
from the date the contract was let.
Before we had the roads one year
they passed an order before any
more money was paid that all
the roads must be up according
to plans and specifications, in
spected by the county inspector,
reported up, and his report sworn
to. We then went to work to put
the roads up. The next step was
to hold our own money after they
has been reported up and sworn
to by the Inspector, and the next
step was to reject Mr.. Montgom-
ery's report after itw as sworn to.
We think that there was bug
under the "chunk'' and the bug
was to be elected again. These
men took every step against US
and the inspector they could.
When any business other than
ours would come up they would
laugh, talk and discuss the matter.
But when our business came up
they would shove their chairs
back from the table, pull their
hair, swell up, leave the room and
60 into the closet or Office and
caucus like the young boy does
when he buys his first bottle of
blind tiger.
Now, the Board of Super
visors at their last meeting,
knowing that the majority of our
roads were up according to plans
and specifications, and knowing
full we'll that they would have to
pay US our money when they
we're reported up las they have
been), and instead of holding
three or four days as usual, in
order to hold our money and
worry us, caught Mr.. Montgom-
cry off in the country inspecting
the roads and very quietly left
the room, ''caucussed" and made
a motion to adjourn.
The President told Mr.. Mont
gomery that they would hold
until Wednesday in order to give
him chance to report on the
roads and to file his list of hands
subject to road duty.
In order to keep the "bug UNI
der the chunk" one made move,
the other a bow, so they went
"Bow-Wow-Wow.
We got up and insisted that
they hold until morning. No!
MOI! They couldn't do this; it
would be too much expense to the
county. (How very conscien-
tiousD Mr.. Brennan, the county
attorney, said if there was any
important business to attend to
the President could hold them un-
til Thursday. But they had the
interest of the county too much
at heart (?). We told these men
if it was so much expense to the
county that we would pay it our
selves if they would wait until
morning and let Mr.. Montgomery
file his report. One member (?)
said he would come back for
nothing before he would do this.
But he failed to come back. He
said he was tired of "Montgom-
ery's foolishness'' to the people
of Lincoln county.
We want to say to the people
of Lincoln county that Mr.. Mont
gomery's business is our business.
And if working public roads and
feeding a or more head of stock
is foolishness, then we are tired
of it too.
Gentlemen, if these men can
treat us this way about the money
that we are entitled to under the
contract, and if it is so that they
are using the same for |elec-
pioneering" schemes, then we
hope the people will find some
other men to take their offices,
and we hope that their attention
will be drawn to this article.
We want to say to the people of
this county that we like to work
the roads of this county, and the
people, as a majority, have treated
US with all the respect and courte-
sy that is necessary, and we wang
to say right here that there is no
way to work public roads except
by contract.
Now, if the Board of Super
visors will pay us for what we
| have done and rnlnacn ON. hnndS