The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-11-02
Taxation and
Good Roads
''Hagood" Bethea Would Re.
turn to Good Old Days
When Road Hands Were
Called Out
Editor Daily Item:

In the days just after the good
stealing" Ct was about to say
"when the country was fiat" but
conscious it never was so fiat as
now I desist) when through radical
misrule, corruption, eXtraTagance
the government was badly in debt
with an empty treasury, J. Monroe
Johnson, afterwards solicitor on
that district was elected county
commissioner, and although the
salary was but three hundred dol
lars he greatly eXerted himself to
give US good roads and to run the
county at minimum Of expense.
My father was road overseer, and
Nj. Johnson addressed him, as l
suppose he did every other over
seer a letter to economic in every
possible way, and when it could be
done to built puncheon bridges.
He c.lso published an article to that
effect in the county papers. We
had good roads. The law then was
that every male past a certain age
was liable to road duty twelve
days, but were required to work
only so long as was necessary to
put roads in good shape.
When I came to this county the
same law was in effect, but some of
the roads We're positively miser-
able. This was particularly the
case with the old Charleston road
across little and big Rafting Creeks.
BY my own request I was made
overseer and the work we did in
those swamps in one year stood
several. For the sake of economy,
good roads, reduction Of taxes for
one I would the old law be put in
force again.
I am no calamity howler when
I say this country was never in
such straights, not even in recon-
struction days, for then with ev-
erything under fence even the
poorest could have a hog Or cow.
Deer were plentiful and the table
of the average farmer was seldom
without fresh meat of the choicest
kind. Today there are scores un-
able to meet expenses let alone to
pay taxes. Not a few, because of
Inability omeet obligations have
lost thousands Of dollars. A land
lord living in this country had his
farm, fine property, returned
to him while others in various
places have acres for which they
will not realize a cent Of rent, the
tenant whcre they made advances
to him being unable to cancel thai
debt. This is the situation in the
first year Of the boil weeviPs ap-
pearance. What may we expect
next year?
the government has advanced mon
ey on farm property it is having to
pay the taxes on it. But here we
are increasing taxation to get
money to build roads to give en-
pIoyment to the idle. If that is not
| the limit Of stupidity what is? 1t is
said in it's defense that it will turn
money loose in the country? Very
true, but where does it come from
1t is borrowed.
1t is proposed to put up can
ming factory in Sumter; will its
prom oters borrow the money to dc
it, giving gilt edge security. Hard
ly, but every dollars worth Of prop
erty in Sumter county is to be tax
ed to build roads over which for
some time it appears little will pass
but big touring cars. The advo-
Gates Of this stuff are painting the
black horse white, but however
white they may make him he is a
black horse still, a Trojan horse
at that we fear. By all means let
US have good roads, but do not
paralyze the country to do it.
"Hagood."
! par,J,ort Oot 0e