The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1913-02-28

In the first place ! think 1t IL
high time for our county to make
some very important improvements
in regard to the roads and bridges
and culverts as they are In bad and
unsafe condition. II we had begun
using concrete instead OF so much
cheap lumber, say twenty years ago
and paid out at the same ratio al
we have paid out money for ma
terial that has rotted and has civ
en- way perhaps three or four times
in that length of time, whereas II
lat had been put in out of good con-
crete II would stand for one hun
bred years yet and then be in good
condition. / do not mean to do all
this at once, but think 1t good
plan to use concrete as the old work
gives way and what we do use lei
| II be made permanent and substan-
Itial. believe that the county judge
should be good practical man In
regard to urveying and grading
roads. | further believe that he
should have a thorough knowledge
OF making and putting in concrete
culverts or piers; he should also
understand how to put in good
foundation for such work then ne
would be able to take care OF the
county's interest and know just
what kind of work the county is
paying for. If this kind of work
would be used we could soon have
our county out of debt and put II
on cash basis. also believe that
some parts of our county have been
neglected while others have had
good attention. For instance, the
Poin' between the two rivers has as
good citizens as any part OF our
county, but there is some neglect
as to the proper improvements In
that one part of the county. be.
| lieve that the county judge should
make at least two trips over the
county each year then he could see
the condition of things himself, sc
liz perchance fraudulent claims
should be brought before our Fis-
cal Court he would know how to
meet them. In my Judgment one
trip should be made in the spring
of each year and the other In the
fall
Some time ago was called be-
/ lure lIt r iSCdl NJOult. tnlo pCa] W
county officials knowing that I ha0
| a thorough knowledge of the con-
crete business, to make n statement
in regard TO the approximate cost
OF new jail made OF concrete. !
think we figured II would cost close
to twenty-five hundred (250o)' dol
lars and thought they had decid-
ed to build II. but later they
changed their minds. best known to
themselves, and spent at least a
thousand OF twelve hundred dollars
In the way of repairs on the pres
ent Jail, which, in my judgement, is
a total loss, as the jail is but lit
tie, II any, better, only as to light
and ventilation. but otherwise no
safer and is yet unsafe and might
say a disgrace to the count.
/ believe that our county should
pay county judge more and rid It
self and of the road and bridge SUI
pervisor and require more of the
county Judge and thereby save the
county from three to five hundred
dollars per year.
| wri. the above from the fact
that | have, thorough knowledge
of the things mentioned and reas-
enable knowledge of the Common
Law and not casting any reflections
on any county official either past
or present, but do believe with the
hearty cooperation of a good ac-
tive county judge and county at
torney, they both being practical
men, that our county can be saved
from five hundred to one thousand
dollars per year
! have been in the concrete bust
ness for more or less than seven
years, therefore feel myself cap
able of overseeing any kind of con-
crete work or inspection any kind
of masonry. SO taking the above
facts into consideration with the
help of good active Fiscal Court
there is no reason why these things
should not he put into effect and
thereby soon get our. roads and
bridges in much better condition
than they now are and not increas-
ing the expense of the county but
at saving to the county and also
making our work permanent ant
substantial which in very few
years would reduce the county's ex-
penses to a great extent. For IN
stance. we may have good, honest
sober men at the head OF the af-
fairs of our county, but II they have
had no experience along this line
II would be easy for a practical or
experienced man to put off shod-
DIV or imperfect work for which the
county would have to pay.
Let the voters of Lawrence coun-
ty take this matter into considera-
tion and act for their own inter-
ests regardless of party affiliations
and select good, honest, sober men
to fill the various offices OF our
county
| thank the citizens of Lawrence
county for their past favors weth-
err or not | should ever again ask
for office ! am as over
Yours sincerely,
R. S. CHAFFIN,