The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1920-06-18
Facts and Figures About
Our Roads

To The Fslcon:-Last year q short
time after our present Highway Com
mission went into Office a number Of
articles we're published critieizing the
tractor system and the general way in
which our road affairs were being con-
Quoted. At that time wrote an ar
ticle urging that the Commission be
given year to demonstrate to the
people just what they could do. They
have been in Office now for one year
and three months, and have had
abundance of time to show the efficacy
of their system, BY their fruits ye
shall know them.
sm not q traveller and 80 do not
personally know the condition of any
roads except those in my own district.
Beyond all DOUBT our roads are worse
tnan they have been in ten years.
Many OF them are simply impossible
aud there is not good road in the
district. Inc road from Braden to
NJ asun is so fortunately situated that
very moderate work will keep it in re-
pair. For the lsst ak months it has
Leen worse than ever saw il before.
More money has been spent for tem-
porary repairs, damages to vehicles,
and BY unfortunate travellers who got
stuck" than would have been required
10 work it from end tO end If it had
been taken in time.
Time after time have we appealed to
the Commission but only once has the
county outfit paid any attention to
pleas for help. Inc work on that oc-
casion was of no real value as 1t was
only dressing up instead OF q real
grading. Our magistrate says that he
10 sure that this district. No. 6 has not
received as much as $1,000 from the
Commission for roads. bridges, culverts
and all 10 the last year.
Reports from other districts are that
their roads are equally bad. A number
OF taxpayers ssked for reductions IN
their valuation because the puolic
roads were impsssable.
The Commission has been in Office
fifteen months. When they came into
uffice they had sl4.600 cash on hand.
the 1910 Road Tax amounted to $50 600.
$1,000 ADDITIONAL has been borrowed and
spent and the bank has carried the
Commission for s5, 1856 additional, and
now refuses to furnish more money.
These figures have been approved by
the proper authorities and are reliable.
l could not find the amount Of the
automobile tax. that while supposed
to be spent on the roads is not under
the control of the Highway Commission.
To sum up. the Commission has spen,
about $50, ,0O0 and on p,s I roads are
the net result of this expenditure. Are
they worth 1t? Now we are out oi
money, out OF roads, out of patience.
out Of hope and some few are out OF
temper. Our present road system has
thoroughly demonstrated its ability u
spend money and its inability to make
roads. Il has failed to measure up to
the demands of the situation. Some
fortunate few have wei. cared for roads
provided tor their pleasure but the
general msss Of contemplate tax pay
ers get hardly the crumbs that tai
from their masters table.
have no charges of corruption.
do no, even suspect graft but public
officials must stand or isli by wha'
3 they accomplish. he who excuses
: himself, accuses himself. These mel
r were not chosen to give US ro-ds In
I hale, ON days but in days of st rm a:
, we'll as OF sunshine. The outly lng DIS
{ tnct> deserve something. inns road
: mone, should have been divided with
some degree of fairness.
u Road emplo, ees should have beer
: required 60 work reasonable hours,
Pleasure cars should not have beer
provided 50 noeralIy Dragging out.
fits should not nave been employed Il
drag rosds that were in such con
dItion that the tractors 10 some places
y had to leave the roads and 20 thrr
the fields.
/. Ordinary business judgement ans
economy should have been used.
II these things had been properly
4 looked after our county roads. woult
not have been jest to travellers and I
shame to its citizens. Let us stop thi
business. Let us give each District ~
lpr-per shsre Of rosd money. Let q
. .lIuterprst the Law in g spirit OF justicl
!. and however much We love the tax
: eaters let us some times at rare inter
!, walls remember the tax payers.
W. r. SEAY
- u