Rocky Ford enterprise., 1908-05-15
Working Out
a Poll Tax

Gullics had been worn In the sides and
center OF the highway. and long ruts
formed where the clay had dropped
down, had been carried away by the
rain. leaving smooth. spout'like open
ings The dirt had been washed
away, also. from rocks and boulders
that protruded like fangs from the
soil. Bridges had lost some OF their
timbers. and planks on them had been
loosened by the heavy and constant
traiiic OF "thrashcrs.' "clover.hullers"
and teams hauling grain to market. On
some hills II was almost suicidal to
try to dave down them. II was bad
enough going up. but to 70 down was
simply dry ''coasting" over ruts and
boulders. with either a runaway or an
upset long before you got To the bot
tom. The road boss OF our district
began TO bes,ir himself.
II reckon you'd rather pay your poll
tax than work her OUT he Inquired
OF me one morning. almost apologiz.
Ing at the idea OF my deliberately
going out on the road instead OF pay
Ing the comparatively small amount
necessary.
" NY NO. wan ius aHh"'Es
work IL out" As I was neither blessed
nor burdcncd with a horE. this meant
that would hay. to work twice as
lons as | would had I been possessed
OF a team.
Well the boys will be ready at
eight tomorrow morning." said the
"bona." and We start In on Suicide
Iiiii." reckon itll take us two days
TO M that and the bridge across the
creek there. aud then We can take her
easy ON the bottom road. Two days
will pay your tax all right. and you'ii
b. right In It up to your neck on the
hill he added. with n grin. Better
fetch an AK: we'll have everything
else
Now. was no, cn,I!ciy certain rs
To Just what this poll tax meant. nor
that ! was du. to either pay IL or work
~ out, but II was nn opportunity for
n"w experiences and a chance TO get
acquainted with the nciEhborH. No
hun. over the srindH,onc that day and
rut my aS down to me cdsc for the
n"Nt day. Cccilc put me up a hearty
lunch. and at eight sharp ! was at the
hill ready TO begin work for the day.
This particular slope was Jagged with
bouid-rS. scanned and SCARED with
deep cuts and .uliirH. and looked like
several blasts Of dynamite had been
tnu' he'd OF under II. a tougher patch
Of hiliHid" never lay out Of doors. No
one could 80 down II without getting
EraHick. ON account of the constant
'El-WinE' from side TO side. and aA for
ascending II. the incline was so steep
that a squirrel would almost fall OF
backwards.
was directed to clasp n pickax and
siaFt digging n ditch on the north side
Of tho hill and on down towards the
bottom, This required digging In n
rocky shaic that lay on that side. and
u was hard work Progress was nee.
cSsarlIy slow. hut foot by foot l wore
down III" shaic and rock until I began
TO scC the outlines Of n scryiccabIc
ditch appearing along the north line of
the highway. Meanwhile some of the
men ciampcd huge chains to the
largest bouldcrs and hauled them
down and dumped them in the creek.
Others ploWed deep ditch along the
south border Of the road. where there
was a layer OF gritty soil. Still others
TOOK "sctaPers" and dragged dirt.
sand and shBlr IN and over the road
and packed IL into the ruis and hol.
lows.
Horses and mules were hitchcd to
the "acrapcTa." which were merely
iron scoops Of large size. which had
wooden handles at each side. These
han4I,9 xx.-. IUtJ hx th. H,s,..r - ,h.
'scrapcr" and as he elevated the
handles the "scraPer" slid into the
soil and took up a load of dirt. It
looked easy. and II was easy II you
knew how. but when you got into
heavy clay. or tough ground. or rocks.
you were apt TO find Il pretty rough
sleddinE
After had workc couple OF
hours with the pickaN the boss" came
aud relieved me. leaving in my charge
team Of salmon.colorcd mules and
"a ''scrapcr." with instructions to go
over the top OF the hill and cut into
the hillside there and bring down a
few "scraper.loads' on to the top and
shoulder of the hill and spread them
out there. had brought along n pair
OF buckskin gloves that morning.
took the mules and drove over the
hill. "hawed" my team around. took
hold of the handles OF the ''scrapcr'
and set the edge into a bank OF pretty
stiff clay. just beyond which was a
ditch of shale and mud. Giving the
mules the signal. we lunged forward.
Now. my buckskin glove on the right
hand had slipped over the handle OF
the "scraper" without my noticing It,
and the handle had gone into the
space where tue glove buttoned. AS
we went ahead the "scrapcr" began to
turn. on account OF the toughness OF
the bank. and when started to let 60
so as not to so up into the air the