The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1919-03-20
MIR. MARTIN AGAIN
WRITES ABOUT ROADS
Road Working Under Contract Plans.
COstof So Doing What Has Been
Result.


AAttulls
Editor Reveille:
Eighteen years have elapsed sine,
our county first began a try out 9.
working the public roads under con
tract AT first, the plan Of using
road hands, along with such comniu
tation money as any Of them elected
to pay, was tried It-failed eeregi
ously Next, the entire county linz
OF roads, which it was determined t
put under contract, was let to one
man. This, too, proved a failure
Lastly, the District method of letting
classified road-ways to one or more
contractors 10 each district, was re.
sorted to. Result mud holes, impas-
sable bad weather lines, begged up
vehicles, wearied mules, horses and
owners Of same, a generally indig-
nant public, patronless stores, penal
lied contractors, offers to surrender
existing contracts, pools Of water in
low places, caving embankments, and
worst drainage in history Of county.
Finally, some Of same contractors.
who had lots Of experience, with inn
posed penalties, advancing bids for
another period Of time, up to S100
and S125 per mile Besides, com
plants Of wet weather springs IN the
middle Of some If the highways.
FIFTEEN YEARS COST.
The average cost to Tax-Payers
for last fifteen years has been about
$4,000 per anpunl, on Tor the entire
period $240,000. This does not take
into consideration three years of
eighteen which have elapsed. What
would this sum have done annually
applied to best hard bed road con-
struction? Taking the Copiah coun-
ty gravel road plan, it would have
laid down at least four miles an
nually Of such roads, or in the fifteen
years would have given road users
Sixty miles Of gravel roads. On the
basis Of best concrete roads, or nuvi-
culite beds, reckoned at $4,000 per
mile, there would now be Twenty
-Four miles Of concrete cement crown
ed, or other kinds Of roads nearly or
quite as good. This, too, without the
issuance Of single bond by the coun-
ty.
CIVIL ENGINEER.
There is not man, who designs
building good residence, who would
do so without plans, specifications and
estimates made BY an approved archi-
tect. Yet, in our inexperienced, ex-
perimenting way, we have never made
selection Of a first class road civil
engineer. Not profile, cross sec
tion nor level has been taken. No
Ir,t 90
provision for underground treat
ment of wet weather or other kind of
springs IN the roadway. No placing
Of stakes to indicate needed eleva-
ton or depression Of the line In
short, nothing done to set the line
and kind Of work Still, S240,000 |
about have been furnished by the
hard pressed taxpayer to throw up
viths woodworking machines a lot Of
loose earth to be washed away in first
down pour, or to be trampled into |
impossible mire during the winter
season.
What Would Be the Advantages to
Road Users, Public Schools, |
Churches, Traders, Merchants and |
Automobile Owners etc. With the |
Advent Of Best Possible Highways? ? |
This question is not difficult Of an
swer. A tabulation is given, as the
most lucid way of doing so.
lst. Saving IN up-Seep Of 1000
horse drawn vehicles, estimated as
being IN service within county limits,
to say nothing ef such vehicles as
pass from adjoining or other coun-
ties. This estimate is based on fig
ures given the writer by active
black smiths. $30,000.00
End Saving ia up-keep Of 1873
automobiles now licensed III county,
saying nothing Of the numerous ones
which daily pass through the county,
and nothing Of the steady increase
in number Annual up-keep put at
$40 each, including new rubber tires
purchased $7,32000
3rd Average loss to owners Of
wagons, mules, horses and drivers OF
same, going to and from markets, or
places OF business, resulting from
having to use bad roads, pull quarter
loads, and consumption of time, say
ing nothing Of damage done over
strained, wearied animals. Estima-
ted at the more than conservative fig
ure Of s12 per annum per 1000 ve-
hicles S24,000.00
4th. There are go public schools
IN the county, there being % white
and AZ colored schools In eahc dis
trict the various schools with roads,
over which safe ard quick passage |
can be had, could be readily cut to
one for each race at points of cen
tralization. Thus 10 schools, five for
white and FIVE for colored children
could be established, and 50 up-keeps /
dlsestablished, with a reduction in |
teaching force, and improvement in |
curriculum, and in efficiency. Say,
saving Of about Sl0,0000O !
Total s7l 10000 |
District Four, along with Regain
ton, in District Three, and Bethel IN
District One, has already consolidat- /
ed number Of its white schools
built a splendid educational center,
with well equipped and comfortable |
school building, where not only good
English grammar course is prescrlb- /
ed but even High School advantages /
may be had, to say nothing Of fu-
tufe expansion as 10 include Normal
afid Vocational Methods what
thinking man can fail TO see the end
towards which the old system Is
trending7 BY the consolidated plans,
made possible through the agency of
motors, the s90uth Of the country can
be brought y centred points il fey
minutes along radii Of from SIX TO
eight miles Good roads furnish the
means ~ fhfr end