The Parisian. (Paris, Tenn.) 1907-1962, 1920-01-16
COUNTY'SROADS
SUFFER HEAVILY
in Rr'ENT RAINS
Highway >ndition known
. Result OF
ccxsS >ownpours. 81
IS .ss W <oAD BoARp
W. MET HERE ON MONDAY
Bridges And Levees Carried Away
By Swollen Streamst--Pians
For Early Repairs.

What the big rains of last week
didn't do to the roads in Henry coun-
ty has never been recorded in any
category of a "bad" roads story.
Members of the Henry County Road
Board, who met in regular second
Monday session at the court house
here Monday, declare that the roads
of. the county are now in the worst
condition in the county's history.
500 lineal feet of bridges in the
county are completely washed away,
1t will take at least thirty days TO
replace these, and of course demand
an extra large financial outlay. Many
Of the destroyed bridges were practi-
cally new, three were entirely new
bridges.
All the bridges in the north fork
of the Obion section were completely
demolished by the heavy two days
downpour. Not single bridge re-
mains but many huge gullies deface
the entire road from Whitlock to
Jones' Mill, which represents praeti-
cally ten miles. The Como road has
been impossible since the big food,
and up to Tuesday, no mail had been
gotten to those on this route. In
fact, in various other places, carriers
because of road conditions, were
compelled to completely desert their
routes, and the unfortunate jewellers
on these routes have of course not
been pleaed at the absence of their
daily mail.
The half will not be told until the
road conditions of the Sulphur Well
district are reported. Because of
the low lay Of the land there, any
unusual rain causes washouts ga
! lore.
On Monday, John 7. Vandyke of
Eandyke station was made road su-
pervisor to succeed R. L. Hartsfeld,
who rendered his resignation. eMr
Vandyke will serve two years. He
was road supervisor some four years
ago, and being thoroughly capable
and we'll acquainted with the bust
ness, is full of energy and vim, for
the immediate problem before him
of making all roads passable at an
early date. Work on the roads will
be started forthwith. That the road
| funds are short is no new story. 1t
seems to be a chronic condition of
road monies, that appears to have no
certain cure, however, the fact that
taxes are now being readily paid, will
somewhat alleviate this inconve-
nience.
Up to- the last big rains the road
men state that the roads were in bet
! ter condition than they have ever
been at this season of the year. And
| it is, generally agreed that the per-
| feet system Of handling the road re
| pair and construction has every ad-
vantage over the previous system. OF
course a portion Of the washouts and
/ giving in of roads in the North 0bion
F., section is due somewhat to the re-
cent drainage work, which loosened
all surrounding soil, but the big rains
did not fill up he drainage ditch as
might have been expected, but on
the contrary, washed it out.
The huge caterpillar tractor, loaned
by the government, which when first
brought here was thought by many
to be white elephant, and too heavy
for the county bridges, has proved
the biggest asset to road work that
we have. A few of the bridges, it
naturally drags, but to no material
damage and is useful in scores Of
ways.
Natural gravel is used almost ex-
clusively on Henry County roads.
There is good supply of it in the
northeast part of the county, and it
will probably require an extra
amount to repair many stretches of
roads, now so terribly washed. It is
pity, we can't have gravelled roads
throughout the county.
The County Road Board consists
of DR.. e. A. Travis. of Como; H O.
Farmer, Springville; Esq. w. A. Nc
Swain, of Puryear, and j. F. Brisen.
dine, of Cottage Grove. Mr.. Brisen-
dine was reelected at the last meet.
ing Of the board, to succeed him elf
The board will meet IL called session
again Saturday, for important bust
ness.