The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-12-11

How much Uf the traffic OF this cUun-
try Is carried over the public road!
Have you ever thought Of that? Nine
ty per cent Of all Of the freight, all
the traffic in the country that goes
over the railroad and the steamship
lines-ninety per cent Of it goes over
the wagon roads Of this country. and
only nine per cent are good roads.
The next question that I come to is
this, Who should built the roads {?
Who should maintain and build the
roads? Do they belong to any parti-
cular class Of people? If so. then that
class should be the one that should
build and maintain them? Do they
belong to the farmer, the banker, the
merchant, the manufacturer, the rail-
way man. or who? If they belong to
any one Of these classes, then decide
who it is and let that class build and
maintain these roads and give them
the exclusive right over these roads.
But if they belong to everybody, if
they are a public utility, as We know
they are, then let everybody contri-
butte. Are they doing it? No. In
many States Of this Union and espe-
cially must I say it with regret, in
many Of the Southern States the
road working falls upon the shoulders
Of the farmer. I say it is a shame
that men who we're born or an equal
ity with all men should be compelled
BY the laws of this State to 60 out
or the public highways like the mana
cled felon and perform menial labor
for another man who comes whizzing
over that road in an automobile and
hardly gives the poor fellow time to
get out of the way. These benefits
are universal. Everybody uses the
road. the rich and the poor, from the
automobile down to the fellow that
drives a long-eared, flap-eared mule.
Everybody uses them: even the poor
wreck that has not where 70 lay his
head can plant his feet in the public
road and no man there can dispute his
right-of-way. Now as to this PERM
cious state Of affairs I referred to
awhile ago, Of making the country
people work the roads. There are
possibly those among you who do not
know how this system is conducted.
I want to tell you, because you might
misunderstood.
The road is laid in sections from
one to. three miles: an overseer is ap-
pointed who happens to live on that
road, possibly. It is his duty to get
out all hands on that road between
certain points, usually from eighteen
to fifty-five years Of age. These
hands are compelled to work on THAI
road from six to twelve days year,
or pay communication tax of from So
to Sc. They can work the road or
they can pay the tax, just as they pr.
fer. Now, by this plan the whole bur
den of keeping up the county roads
falls upon the country people, be-
cause there is no other tax except the
communication tax, which is a per capt.
ia. T believe, as I said, that We have
the per capita tax on the people living
in the rural districts and not levied
anywhere else; that makes them bear
the burden Of rural roads. That is
one thing we want to agitate among
the people and get them to help us
fight it. If we can get them to help
US fight it, we can put the burden
where it properly belongs, on the
shoulders Of everybody.
Now we have discussed State aid.
l shal! net detain you muci: longer.
it may not do in some States, bit [
should be awfully glad to try it in
South Carolina. I should be awfully
glad to try anything in South Car
olina. to improve our roads. Some of
our Statet already have State aid, [
believe. In New York, I believe, they
have the best plan; as I understand
it the State pays fifty per cent of the
taxes; the county pays thirty-five per
cent and the township in which these
roads are built pays 15 per cent. that
equalizes the burden. 1t makes the
burden fall upon the property as we'll
as upon the individual. Now, why
should it be that way? Why should
any individual on the farm be taxed a
dollar to keep up the roads when
great railway corporations are excus-
ed? One thing I contend for is that
property should bear its share Of the