The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1920-07-09
CHE ROAD LAW

by citizens of the county. But we be-
lieve It time for an expression from
every citizen VINO has at heart the good
of the roads and Of the county. We are
not experts on road matters, having
made no study of such things more than
comes from a daily reading Of the cur
rent matters turnout the country. And
taking all things into. consideration The
Falcon believes that that the roads will
be better worked and cared for under
the presen, law than under district
law.
We hold no brief for anyone in the
matter of the handling of the roads
since the law was enacted little over
a year ago. But we have noted the
following: Weather conditions have
been such that outdoor work of all kinds
has been hampered as it was never seen
in this country before for Is months.
The destruction to roads, levees and
bridges by floods and rains was never
equalled in the same length of time.
These had to be repaired and under
difficulties. Labor was never as scarce
in Fayette county, nor never so ex-
pensive. Material for carrying on this
work was never so expensive. And
with these. conditions the road fund has
had no more income than in pas. years.
Again, it has been noted that local
road authorities, district commissioners
and overseers have not been half as
6iligent in minor repairs on their roads
as they were before the enactment of
the present law, leaving ALL road
work including minor repairs to the
county road crews. This last phase of
the situation we count as one leading
factor in fixing the present condition.
Time was when hole was in the road
or water gathered and made q mud
hole, that local road men saw to its re-
pair at once. But this is changed in
most of the districts and it has been
necessary for road crews to drive 20
miles to fix q place that could have
been fixed by local authorities in less
time than it took the county crew to
drive to the place needing repairs, thus
wasting much of the time of the county
crews.
Further, it Is noted in almost every
part of the county that road hands who
did not pay their money to the Trustee
have escaped road duty and have given
neither time nor money to the upkeep
of the roads. Some districts have col
/. lected this Communication money more
closely than others, and those not pay
ing have not worked either in most
cases. And 1t has been brought to the
ears of attentive listeners many times
that the men Of influence int the com.
munities generally have never paid
their Communication money for years,
neither have they put in their time on
the rosds, II being made to appear that
only the mediocre in circumstances and
influence are required to pay or to
work. This condition should be cor
rected and at once and every one made
TO comply with theisw.
These are all no fault Of the present
law which we believe good, but fault
Of system that has In part maintained
in this county for long time. and We
will never have any roads until il is
changed. whatever the Law may be I'M
der which our roads are worked.
Further. II must be said that the
State Highway department and the
National Highway department are plan
ming to furnish aid to this county. the
county court has arranged TO accept
this aid. and as We understand the Law,
these departments do not cooperate
with any county not having central
ized road authority that they Geo deal
with, they do not deal with districts.
Then. to do away with the present Law
and the county commission would mean
disrupiing plans for securing aid from
the state and national government.