The Tupelo journal., 1907-05-03

that 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 subject
is taken up and Investigated, as the
subject of roads is being done, there Is
little fear of something definite not be-
ing accomplished. Ii an attempt Is
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-
feet, 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 satisfactory 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 q
bad roads tax each year larger than all
other taxes combined and the assertion
has not been questioned as yet. Think
of it,; more than two million OF dollars
paid as a tribute to 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 bug
gies, torn up harness, used up stock,
loss of time, smallness of load hauled,
etc., constitute the items of debit to u
bad roads system, or rather, lack OF a
good roads system. AS has been stated,
u people do not place enough value
upon their time to fully appreciate the
true worth of better roads. But this
condition of affairs is changing, the
public works and demand for men n
teams making it more valuable than
ever and coming closer home to the
mar with a team when he can get So
for spare days. This phase of the situa-
ton will be drawn out stronger in the
future, and then we may look for
speedier results in the effort to create
interest and enthusiasm for the better
ment of road conditions.
There are in Mississippi approximate
ly 100000 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 con-
sentative estimate, and the condition
of the road only makes it possible to
haul with two mules two bales OF cot
ton or its equivalent of 1000 pounds,
he eight days for himself and
team. If an improved condition Of the
roads allowed of hauling four bales OF
cotton, orits equivalent of 1000 pounds,
he has saved four days for himself and
team, which is, estimating at 800 per
day, a saving of SO. Then if we could
figure on this as a basis of the loss for
each of the $50, 900 farms, the total
figures would be two and a half milii5l
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 purpose. When he takes
the family to church, goes to spend
Sunday with his wife's people, when he
carries the grist to the mill, attends
meetings of the Cotton Association or
the Farmers Union, and in dozens OF
ways. So it appears that the estimate
of our bad roads tax being greater than
all others combined is net 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 prop
osition according to prevailing condi-
tions. A plan for universal use could
hardly be suggested from the fact that
what would solve the question in one
county might not 1t all be applicable
to another. 1t is conceded, however,
that so or IS per cent of the roads in
Mississippi can be made fairly good
with the material at hand or within a
short distance. These roads al be
made better than they are at present
at a moderate cost. The greater por-
ton will allow of improvement by grad
ing to a crown in the center and good
drainage of the water from them. Two
elements are necessary for the forma-
ton of a mud hole-dirt and water.
Then, if we can get the water away
from the dirt, no mud hole can form.
Grading and draining will make the
greater portion of our roads fairly good,
while spots not allowing of this treat
must be handled differently. Sand
on gumbo stretches and gumbo on sand
stretches has proven all right if prop
erly applied. Other practicable plans
will come to the froat when our people
become alive to the matter and begin
an earnest investigation. The people
of Mississippi can be safely depended
upo to do the right thing when aroused
to the necessity of action, and the time
for action with reference to the misera-
BILE condition of our roads has arrived.
Talk about this, write about it and in
the end do something practicable.
O~ratorical Contest.
The O~ratorical Association of the
Central Mississippi graded schools held
+L1;, ,np,o1 noptacf of Wipnnq The