Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-08-07
The Road Question.

The Road Question.
Although there is absolutely no
question Of the fact that the road
problem is the all important consid-
Grafton with the people of York coun-
ty, and while it is hoped that the sub
ject will be discussed thoughtfully and
intelligently in all it's details, in view
of the position that the people have
already taken through different repre-
sentative bodies it is difficult to be-
lieve that there is any reason to ques-
ton their present attitude.
The following resolutions adopted by
the York County Farmers Union at its
meeting on salesday in January last,
were published in the county papers
at the time, republished in various pa
pers throughout the state, and COM
mented upon generally by the press
and public to the great credit Of York
country and the splendid progressive
ness, breadth and liberality Of York
county's citizenship:
Whereas, the condition of the public
roads of this county has been a re-
proach to US during the generations
past, and whereas we have continued
to suffer this reproach year in and
year out, without ever making so much
as an honest attempt to relieve our
selves of it, and whereas we realize
and appreciate that such an attitude
on our part is not only humiliation,
to us but that it will continue such to
those who come after u.s. Therefore,
to the end that we may feel that we
are trying to do something to relieve
ourselves of this discredit and humil-
iation, and at the same time secure
greater comfort and convenience for
ourselves and for our children after
us, be it resolved by the Farmers Un-
ion of York county:
l. That the public roads Of this
county are not worthy of free prog
ressive people who lay claim to the
possession Of public spirit.
2. That however submissively we
may have appeared to acquiesce in our
So called road working system, we
have always recognized it as a sham
and a fraud, and we so recognize 1t
now.
8. That we fully appreciate that
first class, serviceable roads are not
to be obtained in this country except
at very considerable expense, and that
the only way of meeting that expense
is by going down into our pockets.
4. That provided the money is judi
cially expended, and none is misappro-
priated or wasted, good roads are
worth to the individual and to the
public all they cost.
5. That the most practicable and
equitable method Of constructing pub
lie roads is by property taxation.
6. That we are willing and anxious
to submit to such taxation.
7. That we believe York county can
we'll afford to issue bonds to the
and use the entire proceeds In con-
structing good permanent roads.
There were those who shook their
heads knowingly and said that those
Union people are only gassing, those
resolutions are all buncombe and the
people who passed them are not seri-
Gus about them. Others. however, who
have more confidence in the high in
telligence and sincerity Of our people,
were disposed to think different, and
they were not at all surprised at the
next development in the shape Of the
last session of the legislature by DR.. j.
H. Saye and passed with the full en-
dorsement and approval Of the other
members of the delegation.
This law was published in The En-
quirer Immediately upon the adjourn
ment of the general assembly, and it
was also published in The Rock Hill
Herald at the same time.
But this is not ALL After the pas
sage of the act-after everybody in
the county had been afforded an op-
portunity to become acquainted with
it's provisions, during the holding OF
the York county Democratic conven-
ton in Yorkville on the 4th day Of last
May, the following resolutions were in
troduced by Mr.. A. L. Black, secretary
of the County Union and a member OF
the convention and they were adopted
without opposition:
Whereas, the Democratic party of
York county is divided by no irrecon-
cilable differences of policies or prin-
ciples, and whereas there is no ques-
tion on which our whole people can
unite to the greater prosperity of our
common country than on efforts look
ing to the Improvement of the public
roads, therefore be it resolved:
l. That our previous dealings with
the road question has not been in
keeping with our intelligence, re-
sources or aspirations.
2. That the only practicable method
of securing good roads is by means of
taxation.
3. That the road law for this coun-
ty recently enacted by our general as
sembly through the efforts of our rep
reSentatiVeS has our endorsement as
being in the right direction and we
hereby pledge the Democratic party of
York county to use its best efforts in
securing for this law earnest support
and honest enforcement.
From these things it would seem
that the people of York county are on
record in favor of the Saye road law.
That the law should be fought is nat
ural No people have ever been able
to get the benefit of any permanent
good without a fight. The representa-
tive farmers Of York county have
made a brave start in the interest of
better roads, and we hope they will be
able To win out.
- Rock Hill Herald: one of the most