Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1907-05-04

F'c III general. Rcmember that good
roads are not spoken Of at this time,
only an Improvement of the rpads'
tlSat we now have, Letters 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 instances, 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
Lutte fear Of something definite not be-
ing accomplished. Ii an attempt ia
made to make the roads better, even II
the first fails, other plans will follow
and success eventually crown the
effort, Additional counties are falling
INTO the contract system monthly, and
although this plan is yet far from per
tct, 1t 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 wisel,
and with satisfactory results, they vii
demand other plans until the rigl
thing is hit upon in the end a.
Well posted authorities have ma
the statement that Mississippi pay
bad roads tax each year larger than
other taxes combined and the assert ~
has not been questioned as yet. I'll .b
Of it; more than two million OF do
paid as a tribute to bad roads each , VI.
And the worst phase OF the situation N
that after paying this enormous tax
not only get nothing for it, but
roads get no better by its payn
Worn out and broken wagons and '-
gies, torn up harness, used up 5 h,
loss of time, smallness of load h. I'd
etc, constitute the items OF debit osu
bad roads system, or rather, lar ot
good roads system. As has beer STATED.
our people do not place enoug v&ao
upon their time TO fully approa'It9 l4a
true worth Of better roads. hlt ths
condition of affair, is chan H- the
public works and demand fC ma lao
teams making it more val able a.
ever and coming closer hone .o Oh
man with team when be can get
for spare days. This phase q, the ,itr ID
ton will be drawn out strC ger b
future, and then we mg loa.
speedier results in the eff rt W tr7 ar
interest and enthusiasm fO, .aa oe'
ment of road conditions. a.e
There are in Mississippi pproEu. No.
ly 100000 farms averagin in dist II,
from the county towns and ira fya
points eight miles. Then, ii man b d
eight miles from market, and igh
necessary for him to 60 to Cywn soD
times per year, which Us a very tior
servative estimate, and tAe cona,le ID
OF the soad only makes 1t pos3lh cot
haul with two mules two bales 0 n5s
49, ,--i~'alens Of 1000 ret ,,.
be COnSumas - -.l-4. l--- t1.s ~.'
team. If an improved c, p lA
roads allowed of haulinf 1oun LaH4s
cotton, orits equivalent ot 1900 po nd.
he has saved four days fer hNnseA an
team. which is, estimating s2,5t5pa
dav, a saving of SO. Then il we oui
figure on this as a basis ot ,b' io5g tc
each of the 100000 farm9, the oU
figures would be two auJ q h&l n .iio
dollars per annum Tie Armlf n,
only pays this tribute When he is .soie
to market, but every ii nJ use tn
roads for any purpose. #henh ail'
the family to church, aes 70 a.nea
Sunday with his wife's t2ple, VIII ni
carries the grist to ii mill ati9u,
meetings Of the Cotton Associaao'
the Farmers Union, 'd IN DOZENS
ways. So it appears tt the es''i. p
Of our bad roads tax bei0E greater 7. IS
all Others combined is aot at al oN
: drawn.
The condition is ac owIadge1 81
= the demand for improv ens justine
, then what is to be done aa'A aoNn
0 or community must wo auJ thA pro
$ osition according to Y 'gallns conc
t tnns. A plan for uni sa use Gov
t hardly be suggested fro tog INa' en
e what would solve the aue6Ion Ny o
n county might not at al pe apPloa.
to another. 1t is concc ieo, MOVIE W
that so or S. per cent g. tAo I"A1s
i Mississippi can be mao ialr'y go
-, with the material at hala "iJ4l
= short distance. Thes co4ds eau
u made better than the are 75 pre4t
,s at moderate cost. a greater \
y. tion will allow OF impragemens py trf
o. ing to a crown in the enter 1nd go
IA drainage of the water IRON them Z
~ elements are necesspry for the form
in tion of q mud hole s'lrt ahY wac
Then, if we can &c lha "Eer aN
from the dirt, no mla Aole chh l"r
ty Grading and drainin @lH 4iA'-2 I
to greater portion of our faaa9 .arI' sot
in while spots not al'owlae Q ifls lfe
ty ment must be handled s'ieHet'5 pa
os- on gumbo stretches x .'..0 ~ %
& stretches has proyeT
of erly applied. othe p.ge.eA..' Y
u viii come to the ilprt wheu gag gaoI
become alive TO pe aey1gI I, aats psl
an earnest investga he IpeoI
,xt of Mississippi cal oa sh'ely 1tpen-
M upon to do the ri l31ns @h9gl,toe. IY M y.
tie. TO the necessity aetiohi aAll ~ Y
ex. for action with \ ference t9 tPe Aise
BILE condition OF hl 3aus has a' "
Nv Talk about thii write az. ~ Rao
,he ~ and do somhing practicable.
oratoral Contest
ur-
ING The Oratori4 Association OF
on. Central MISSISSIPPI graded schools h
hv ,ha;r annual c.test as Winona.
, a,bonI uere renrespnted