Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1907-05-03

1t is gratifying to note the interest
being taken in the proposition for
road improvement in Mississippi by
the people in general. Remember that
"good roads" are not spoken of at
this time, only an improvement of
the roads" that we now have. Let
ters received at this department from
more than one third of the counties
of the state can be shown in support
of this statement. The people are
thinking, talking and in some instanc-
es, acting. The result is bound TO
be good. When a subject is taken.
up and investigated, as the subject
of roads is being done, there is little
fear of something definite not being
accomplished. If an attempt is made
to make the roads better, even if the
first fails, other plans will follow and
success eventually crown the effort.
Additional counties are falling into
the contract system monthly, and al
though this plan is as yet far from
perfect, it brings about an interest
that means good for the future When
the supervisors begin to spend the
peoples money, they will sit up and
take notice and if it is not being
expended wisely and with satisfac-
tory results, they will demand other
plans, until the right thing is hit
upon in the end.
Well posted authorities have made
the statement that Mississippi pays
bad roads tax each year larger thar
all other taxes combined and the as
sertion has not been questioned us
yet. Think of it; more than two mil
lions of dollars paid as tribute 20
bad roads each year. And the worst
phase of the situation is, that after
paying this enormous tax we not only
get nothing for it, but the roads get
no better by its payment. Worn out
and broken wagons and buggies, torn
up harness and used up stock, loss
of time, smallness of load hauled ETC..
constitute the item of debit to our
bad roads system, or rather, lack of
a good roads system. And as has
been stated, our people do not place
enough value upon their time, to
fully appreciate the .,ue worth of
better roads. But It's condition of
affairs is changing, the public works
and demand for men and teams max
ing it more valuable than ever and
coming closer home to the man with
team when he can get So for spare
days. This phase of the situation
will be drawn out stronger in the
future. and then we NAV look for
speedier results in the effort to create
interest and enthusiasm for the bet
terment of road conditions.
There are in Mississippi approx
mately 250,000 farms averaging in
distance from the county towns and
trading points eight miles. Then if
a man lives eight miles from market
and it is necessary for him to go to
town eight times per year, which is
a very conservative estimate, and the
conditions of the road only makes it
possible to haul with two mules two
bales of cotton or its equivalent of
1000 pounds, he consumes eight days
for himself and team. If an improved
condition of the roads allowed of
hauling four bales of cotton, or its
equivalent of 1000 pounds, he has
saved four days for himself and his
team, which is, estimating at even
$3.50 per day a saving of $40. Then if
we could figure on this as basis of
the loss for each of the 250,000 farms,
the total figures would be two and
half millions of dollars per annum.
The farmer not only pays this tribute
when he is going to market, but every
time he uses the roads for any pur-
pose. When he takes the family to
church, goes to spend Sunday with his
wife's people, when he carries the
grist to the mill, attend meetings Of
the Cotton Association or the Farm
er's Union and in dozens of ways So
it appears that the estimate of our
bad roads tax being greater than all
others combined is not at all over
drawn
The condition is acknowledged and
the demand for improvement justified,
then what is to be done? Each county
or community must work out this
proposition according to prevailing
conditions. A plan for universal use
could hardly be suggested from the
fact that what would solve the ques-
tion in one county might not at all be
applicable to another. It is conced-
ed however, that 80 or 85 per cent.
of the roads in Mississippi can be
made fairly good with the material
at hand or within short distance.
These roads can be made better than
they are at present at a moderate
cost. The greater portion will allow
of improvement by grading to al
crown in the center and good drain