The new South-news., 1909-05-22
FOR GREATER MISSISSIPPI
Devoted The Agricultural
of the Wonaesa Resources Of the State Otaer ns OF nsrest
====sy II E rLAKEsLEE JACKSON. mss======
Read Baidinx in Mississippi.

Mississippi pays annually 10 bad
public roads a tax OF over three mil
lion dollars. This can he estimated
when 1t Is known that there are in
the state approximately s5n.oeo
farms and that these farms average
in distance from the railroads or
market towns. nine and ore>hAf
miles. II IL is necessary for the
farmer 10 so to town eight times
during the year 20 carry his products
and buy supplies he uses eight
whole days for himself. team and ye-
hicle Under the present conditions
and making an average for the
twelve months OF the year. he can
draw two bales OF cotton or its
equivalent of 1000 pounds With two
mules or horses. OF course there
are times when an empty wagon
would prove heavy load. but a,
others 1000 pounds could be car
ried II with improved roads. no,
good roads mind you. but improv-
ed roads. he could draw four bales
of cotton or its equivalent OF 2.ooo
pounds. only four trips would be- re
quired to accomplish his purpose.
Estimating the time OF the man.
mules. vehicle and harness to be
$3.50 per day. we have a saving OF
$1,000 per farm. or a total OF s1.-
5000
And the farmer is not the only
man who pays this tax. Every person
who has occasion TO use the road
adds his quoto The merchant. law
yer, preacher. doctor and others put
up something to help swell the fund.
Those living in a section where
good roads have been constructed
will wonder why this condition pre-
wallis and the people stand for It. Tho
answer is very simple. They do not
appreciate the value OF good roads
and know absolutely nothing OF the
benefits to be derived therefrom. This
Is SO because they have not had
occasion to use good roads. Bad
roads have existed all along and the
average man has accepted them az
a condition of existence as he does
crab grass when he raises cotton or
corn. His father before him dragged
through the mud and slush and he
has done the same thing. II is a
matter OF education more than any
thing else. The man who has seen
good roads, driven over them aud
had occasion to use them for a time
at once becomes good roads
booster.
Mississippi is close akin to Other
southern states and still holds large
ly to the tradition OF otden times
/ Since time immemoria1 ~. road
have been worked by npw'
40 the 'overseer syxt tn
laws governing this. per
son between the ages o Den an,
| sixty years is subject to 5road dut,
with a few exceptions Each man 4
supposed to work annually ten day
upon the road or buy y substitute
The roads are in linksjof approx
} mately three miles each and II
charge Of an overseer appointed b,
the boards OF supervisors This sys
tenn has been In vogue so long tha
1t cannot be said that II has not hac
a fair trial.
In a great majority OF cases II hal
proven q failure. In the first placs
the supervisor is a pretty good sor
Of fellow or he would not have beer
elected. Then the overseer Is alse
. good fellow and gives his neigh
bors A. little trouble as possible and
works the road when he is compelled
to, generally just before the grand
Jury meets. BY this system. every
man 10 just ~ much responsible fol
the condition OF the road az Is tn.
other man. and there il little or nt
complaint. This has been going OF
for years and everybody IL satisfied
or accepts It a. Z condition.
But We are doing better In Missis
sippi. There are more dissat atisfiet
people with road condition than ther.
were few years ago. More Of then
have had occasion to see what othe
people have done and learned wha
they thought of improved roads An,
this army 10 being greatly augmented
from year to year. Nearly fou
years ago when the writer first be
gan gathering Information concern
ing our public highways. only q
per cent. Of Tho counties had broker
away from the old overseer system
and were working by contract, witt
a commissioner or otherwise Blank
recently sent out and returned to tn
Department of Agriculture go q
Ahow that now, sc per cent. Of tn
counties have discarded the system
and building better roads. In com
mon parlance. this Is going some
And 1t will show better for the mex
four years than for the past four.
I Under the contract. commissions
or similar sysfems. the people pa,
their commutation and advolorem Ia
| for road construction and mainten
ancc- When you make Mississip