The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1906-12-19
ALEXANDER COUNTY
NEEDS GOOD ROADS
CITIZEN or WILLARD REPLIES
TO PRESIDENT sMiTA or
CAIRO a TAEBEs n. r.
SAYS INJUSTICE DONE
Cairo & Thebes a Benefit Because II
Runs Through Swamps, But
Small Farms Should Be paid
For--Roads Bad.
Willard. H.. Dec. II, 1906.

hf'hiuf Alitt itN' - AHNP'
Ii seems that President Smith is
considerably hostile toward the peo-
pie of this neighborhood over secur-
ing right of way for the G. e. r.
railroad There Is no doubt but what
Mr.. Smith has just cause for com
plant TO some extent as the proposed
right OF way runs through swamps
and slorghs that would be vastly
benefited by the ditching necessary TO
construct a railroad. But when rail-.
road runs across farm of small d.
mansions il renders the farm value
less. Ii is my opinion that when
a railroad company crosses small
farm they ought to pay the value Of
the farm for the right of way. Sup.
pose Mr. Smith owned an so acre farm
and company built railroad across
ii, would he not feel as the farmers
do in this particular case? What lit
tie compensation the farmers receive
for a right OF way across their farms
does not pay 0ne-tenth part of the
damages done their land. 1t Is an I'M
. luSL law llidl Will iOudtj3il
farm and compel the owner to sell a
strip for the construction Of rail
road.
The citizens Of this community feel
very much hurt over Mr.. Smiths I'M
just criticism. For be it known 20
the people of Cairo that we feel under
everlasting obligations for the favors
shown us, but we would be pleased to
know where the good roads are at |
that Mr.. Smith refers to? If there |
has been any money donated for the
Improvement of our county road /
there had better be an investigation |
made to see where II has gone, for
there has never been any work done |
in this part of Alexander county west
Of the M & o. railroad, except what
little temporary work was done by
labor donated by the citizens or the
neighborhood.
Two years ago when George Parsons
ran for county commissioner. he prom
Used us people that ii elected he would
use his influence toward securing us
good roads. AS yet, Mr. Parsons has
failed to make good IF Mr.. Parsons
ever concludes to run for governor or
any other office, all he has TO do to
get our vote is to promist us good
roads and we will vote 'er straight"
If Mr.. Smith believes there has
been any money or labor expended on
our roads, let him drive ont here or
try to, and he viii find that he Is IN
luck If he ever gets back to Cairo
with his horse and buggy.
The fact is, we have got no roads
The people living in the richest part
OF Alexander county are shut off from
Cairo and will be until next May.
This community produces more
than 10000 bushels of wheat and
over 10000 bushels of corn annually,
TO say nothing of enormous quaint
Ties of other commodities. and a5 per
cent of the proceeds of this enormous
amount finds its way tn Cairo mer-
chants; and yet our roads are such
that we have got to pay high freight
rates to boats TO get our products on
the market. The Cairo business men
would not be doing themselves an m.
justice to come to our aid and help
ms build a road that they as wen as
we could justly be proud Of Their
interests are ours and as all roads led
TO Rome, SO do all roads in this
county lead TO Cairo and win for all
eternity, and the sooner our county
roads are put in proper condition for
travel the year around the sooner
our land, and property in Cairo. will
increase in value and people from the
north and east will make their homes
among us. The best land IN the state
OF Illinois lies In this part of Alexan-
der county, and yet it is not valued
over $50 and s75 per acre. All for the
want Of good roads
j. Med. l..