The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1921-03-10

ing u iue future OF our hepu0llC de
pends. It has been suggested in thii
connection that some slight expenses
might be eliminated in transportation
to consolidated schools, and this Il
worthy Of your attention
The raising Of the standard Of ef
hciency among our teachers has been
suggested to us as the most import.
ant step before our taxpayers in the
line of school work.
COURT HOUSE AND JAIL.
We have notsbeen able to verify the
4 various items making up the aggre.
gate of expense with reference tc
these, because of want Of time. The
total Of this item of expense, like all
others, viii be found in Exhibit a.
BRIDGES AND ROADS.
1 Claiborne County by reason Of its
many streams has far more than an
average expense bill for bridge build
ling, and when we consider for the past
years that much Of the bridge tim
Der cost frequently $4,000 per thous-
and feet, and consider the destruction
wrought by the two rainy seasons Of
1919 and 1920, and then taken togeth-
er with necessary repairs due to de-
cay, is there any wonder that we have
the bridge expense as shown by the
item of expenditure for bridges and
ferries for the year 1920 Of $43,S37 30.
However, as to the innumerable par
ticular items gathered together under
this general item, we cannot speak
because Of time required to investi-
gate and go fully and carefully into
each and every expenditure as we
should need TO do to make a full and
comprehensive report, as to whether
or not we felt that the item was justi-
fed, or that the cost was in reason for
the work done and material supplied.
ROADS: The records Of the Coun-
ty Auditor show that we have an ex-
isting bond issues of Three Hundred
Thirty-Five Thousand Dollars for
roads. When we contemplate this
vast expense of one-third Of a mill
hon dollars, and cast about TO see
what we have by the way of good
roads for such an amount expended. it
would appear that we have paid a very
high price indeed for what we have
Of good roads; yet again, when we
consider the considerable mileage to
be Kept up throughout the entire
County and the work done in opening
up new roads, taking out curves and
grading up large mileage Of old
roads and making permanent with
gravel, several miles Of permanent
roads, and consider the three-fold cost
of labor and material required during
the past 2 years, we can see where
much of our money has gone TO little
purpose. This, however, cannot by
any means be charged largely to the
Board of Supervisors, or Road Com
but TO the conditions ex-
isting, Of which no one had any con-
troll. II is needless perhaps to say
that oft-tines funds were wasted by
reason of Indifferent and careless
in the working Of teams
and men, or in other ways connected,
but we do not believe that the losses
incurred in this respect was as large
as generally believed.
TICK ERADICATION.
One Supervisor made the state
ment to the committee that he was
sure the record would bear him out
that we have spent $100O0O.00 In Tick
now happily completed
in our County; also he felt sure one
year at cost 100000. could easily
have completed the job. The failure SO
to do was due wholly to the lack Of
cooperation on the part of our peo-
pie. This loss of $90,000.00 out Of d
total Of S100,000.00 expended, should
serve to our people as an example Of
the absolute necessity, henceforth, Of
cooperation, or framework To this
may we invite your most earnest con
COUNTY AGENT.
The Board Of Supervisors in the
early fall dispensed with the services
Of the County Agent, for the good
reason that two Supervisors Districts
we're dissatisfied and did not avail
themselves of the services Of the A. |
gent, and there was a general mis- |
understanding all around The only |
thing to do as It occurred 10 the |
Board of Supervisors was to dispense
with the services Of the Agent. and
Ihis item Of expense was eliminated 1
But after all we most respectively sub I
NIT to the people Of the County, is
his item Of the County Agent really I
an expense2 Is this item an asset or \
! Liability Your committee begs to
answer: Given an energetic and ex-
1erienced agent ''on the job, working
Tlth and through the Board OF Super
'isors, this item becomes a great as
iet Of the County. We would sum 10
Iur findings and recommendation as
'ollows
First, permanent organization Of
ne taxpayers Of the County in the
orm Of a taxpayers league with Of
icial representation in each Superyis-
rs District. The work Of this league
hould be to cooperate with the Board
4 Supervisors in holding down ex-
'enses by watching appropriations;
ZEE that the work done IS always
worth the money paid; and in giving
moral support to the Board Of Super
isors in denying useless, improper OF
demands for funds, demands
o often made.
Second, that the Board Of Super
isors at the beginning Of each year
tudy carefully all sources Of income
nd then make up a budget OF abso-
ltely necessary expenditures, making
anne come within the estimated in
ONE. This step we regard as abso-
ltely necessary, If we are to take the
rst step toward financial independ
nee The policy Of spending 50 long
8 funds may be obtained BY floating
ondH or loan warrants must be dis
or our County viii face
and that very soon.
Third, STOP road building 50 soon
8 funds authorized 10 hand are ex-
ended
I property values, not only as to the
plaffnn that varfcrIe r,io,.o,.l-c.s. =, ~,