The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1920-04-15
HILL ROADS

Every good taxpayer is in favor of
good roads, 1t is noticeable that
| whenever bonds are issued to build
improved highways they are gener-
ally located in its valleys and not iii
the hills. The hill roads need more
attention than the valley roads be-
cause most Of the dwellers are farm
ers and not barenial planters with
| their tenants. The current opinion
among folks on the dirt roads IS that
matters can be no worse and gives
one a fright. The more than rainy
year with lack Of care and inefiiciency
have reduced our roads to confusion
without any redress. You pay your
taxes get nothing and no opportuni
ty to hit back The hill voters 90 10
the polls with our frequent elections,
then go home and growl for another
chance at our road contractors and
public officials. The rural people
with the exception Of a few chronic
klckers pay their taxes cheerfully es-
pecially those for highway and educa-
tional purposes.
Personally | have travelled on foot,
horseback, vehicle and car over the
Claiborne county roads the past TWEEN
ty years and believe our hill roads
valley road people on the new
improved highways Of our county
have no patience with the hill-man's
grief where the only hope IL two
ruts full Of slush, and The deluge Of
rain.
The vicious system is followed ev-
cry spring when the sink holes get
firm for the road grader 60 move
dirt, mud, trash and debris that has
collected in the bitches to hump up
in the middle of the road preventing
travelling on foot or running car with
out shocks. Drainage, mud holes and
culverts are neglected. Where there
is a extra soft place they hump up
higher with the result that the drain
age water seeps under the road on re-
mains to dry up making the bitches
below grade. Mud holes on the hill
roads as well as the valley roads are
left for the traveller to drive around,
while after each rain traffic takes TO
the sides unless the abutting owners
festoon the banks with old rails and
sticks of timber.
The hill roads are a different prop
osition from the valley roads. There |
is no dirt in the bitches, vet these |
roads have mostly gravelly and clay
sides giving material for fair sur
facing for hill traffic, and provided |
with breaks there is no difficulty in |
maintaining passable road over the |
steep grades any where
The cities, the towns and valley |
planters have good roads, and we, |
back farmers demand a square deal
that Claiborne county have one de- |
cent hill road in the Rocky Springs
District from Reganton to Hickory |
Ridge where the bulk Of the voters
and taxpayers live as well as the
produce that goes to cities and towns.
The hill man must be given chance
to have improved highway or our
country side will be deserted
We serve notice that the hill peo-
pie propose to have some Of the good
things of this life and what the val
ley planters and city dweller demands
as the commonest necessities Of life
we also desire and mean to have.
And further, the Board Of Supervis-
ors if the bond issue carries, we de-
mand from them that justice be done
in the appointment of road commits
sioners, j. e., one from the west side
If the district, one from the middle Of
The district, and one from the east
side of the district. No selection of
al commissioners from one neighbor-
mood, and building all improved roads
n the western section-the latter have
oeen especially favored by our county
and they must expect the