The Tupelo journal. (Tupelo, Miss.) 1876-1924, 1908-03-13
GEN. GEO. BOWLIN
ON GOOD ROADS

Richmondlee, Miss, Mch, 8 'O8
Editor Tupelo Journal:
| read a good deal in youl
paper here lately about the ques
ton of the public roads, which
the public generally seem to have
something to say from the pres.
ident of the United States, dowr
to the foot peddler.
| | read the different views anc
suggestions and proposed rene
dies with interest, but none of
said views and suggestions SO
far as l have noticed, meet with
my approval, such as for instance;
Mr.. c. R. Williams suggests that
the legislature pass a law forcing
the board of supervisors to make
affidavit against all overseers
who neglect to work their re-
spective LINKS, according to
law" which if put in effect would
land most every overseer behind
the iron bars.
| note that Mr.. j. M. Aven's
views are that the comfy roads
are in a deplorable condition,
which of course is news" to all,
and says further more that IF
it is with the taxpayer, he would
say, wake up, Mr.. Taxpayer,
if it takes to the limit of doub-
ling our tax" etc, etc.
must say that the views ex-
pressed by either of the above
named gentlemen does not meet
with my approval.
1t would take an immense
amount of money from the pock-
cts of the people in the shape Of
tax, to put the public roads in a
bonded passible fix and keep
them so the year round, for when
God made this Lee County bees
wax, He made it to ''stick"
whenit gets wet enough, in spite
of all the resolutions and laws
that we can pass.
Now, Mr.. Editor, have been
a road hand, for many years and
have acted in the capacity OF
road overseer many times.
have travelled the roads in Lee
County for a quarter Of a Gen.
tury; twenty five years ago there
were but few bridges on the lar
ger streams and practically nc
levees at all, and it was com
mon to swim across if you want.
ed to get on the other side. but
thanks to the ways and means
and to the progressive a re that
has brought so many wooden
bridges, and iron bridges, and Sc
many levees. and in some in
stances, graded and gravelec
roads that we now enjoy.
l think the road improvements
have kept reasonable pace in the
last twenty five years with the
progressiveness of the age an
especially with the pocketboo.
OF the taxpayer.
Now for fear | will be dubbed
"a moss back" by the high pres
sure crowd, ! will give you my
views on the public road quest
ion, briefly.
| | am not in favor of having
the roads worked by convict
labor or by taxation, or contract
| am not in favor of the present
road laws relates to hands work
ing so many days each year as
| have seen that this does no
bring:the desired effect from tn,
reason that it takes "elbow
grease" to work the roads under
the eJpresent road laws, and as
this is called ''the age of machin
cry" elbow grease dares no,
come in competition with machin
cry, therefore the man with thu
hoe is waiting for something t
turn up, and give him the advan
tage of the work to be, done OF
the road in the way Of improved
machinery thereby save time
and labor, both of which is mon,
ley,
| Let the board of supervisor
furnish. each road overseer with
the latest improved road machin
cry and require him to elevat
| the public roads in the middle