The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-03-15
THE ROAD QUESTION
Some Sensible Suggestions Made BY
Mr.. r. a. Wilkes, Of culleoka.

With the whiskey question settled,
and the Poor House, Work House and
Jail under investigation by the prop
er authorities, it is well to give prompt
attention to the road question, il any
changes are to be made in our road
laws by the present Legislature.
II permanent roads are to be built,
two important questions will have to
be settled before any system can be
made effective.
The most important one of these is
that of an increase road tax; for good
roads are costly. and while they pay
large dividends in many ways upon
their cost. yet they are permanent in
vestments, and 1t takes time to. build
them, and the returns are general.
/ The best that can be expected is to
get a system started that can be grad
ually expanded, and the work more
permanent instead of the plan of
patchwork from year to year. Unless
there is a public spirit sentiment
strong enough to sustain higher rate
of road taxation, it is useless to ex-
pect anything better than we now
have Laws don't build roads, the best
law ever made will not build yard
of road without money, and the money
, must be backed by public sentiment
and systematic management to make
it effective.
Granting though that we have the
public sentiment to supply the money,
that public sentiment must compel the
proper location of the roads. 1t is
useless to spend money trying to
build roads to suit the convenience or
whims of every land owner. How
many of our roads are along branches
and creeks, over hills and down hol-
lows, zig-zagging in every direction to
suit the idea of some land owner, ut
terly regardless of suitability of loca-
ton and the rights of the public, and
very often to the detriment of the
land owne- himself. The public has
rights paramount to that of any indi-
vidual, and if it is necessary for the
public good to take private property,
it should be done without hesitation.
Ample compensation to be always al
lowed, for without that right civiliza-
tion would he imDossible
At the same time the individual
rights should be so guarded that they
can be invaded for the public good
alone, and not to benefit the interests
of individuals To properly guard the
interests, both of the public and indi-
vidual, in the location of roads, l do
not believe this power should be IN !
the hands of District Commissioner,
for too many local influences can be |
brought in, and the County Judge, who |
finally passes upon his action, may |
know nothing of the surroundings.
Nor should these questions &c to the |
County Court, for the same local influ-
ences are present. 1t would be much
better to have disinterested men from
other localities to decide such ques-
tions, for often the entire road system
of a community will depend upon their
action.
Granting that the money will be
provided, and the roads properly To-
Gated, the question comes of adopt
ing some system that will insure the
expenditure of that money without
graft or favoritism.
Under the present laws, we have
three separate and distinct sets of of
fcials in charge of road matters, with
the County Judge as head of all.
These officials are the Work House !
Commissioners, who are SUPPOSED to t
build highways with the county hands. I
Then the Highway Commissioners, {
who are supposed to keep the high
ways in repair, and then the District {
Commissioners, who are supposed to I
have charge Of what roads are left. =
The laws are so indefinite that 1t is
impossible to tell where their respec-
i've duties begin or end. Is 1t reason
able to expect anything done under
such circumstances? Il
Why not simplify this plan by hav-
ng a County Commission of three y
men to be elected by the people, and
1--WE them charge of the entire road n
system of the county? Let them have
control of the Work House and high :,
ways Let them appoint the District
and either act or
lame all parties to locate roads. In v
,ther words give them entire charge 7,
Il road matters and see If they can't a
work. a system out Of what is now Il
one at random. II it should be found :. ~
est to work any or all roads by con- h
ract, you would have some definite m