The idea of presenting the initial article on the previously announced Scopes Trial replacement topic in the 1986 collection of 1912-1915 columns in the Chattanooga News by Mr. Divine, was to be on the subject of “s_x” to attract attention. (See Aug. 1, 2025, Chattanoogan.com article in Memories section).
However, in light of current public interest on the condition of roads in Hamilton County and Gig City, Sam’s commentary on Aug. 21, 1913, appears to be timely in August, 2025.
It is therefore copied verbatim under the historical cliché of some sage’s statement that “those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it.”
(A few insertions are necessary to allow the City of Chattanooga to also share in the meaning of said contents of Mr. Divine wit and wisdom as it applies to the present):
“Hamilton county (and Gig City) has succeeded under the commission system of building roads and tunnels in piling up a goodly sized bonded indebtedness, and now we are told that there are no funds to continue the good work nor for the upkeep of the roads already built, and unless more bonds are provided the roads recently constructed will rapidly deteriorate, a self-evident fact to anyone who will take the pains to observe the surface conditions of the Rossville Boulevard, St. Elmo Pike and other prominent thoroughfares. (Hunter and Crest Roads, Frazier Avenue, Main Street, etc.)
The surface finish is rapidly disappearing from the Rossville Boulevard, exposing the sub-structure and unless something is done to repair it shortly, by next spring, it will be so full of holes that occupants of automobiles will have to be strapped to their seats to keep from being thrown out.
What is the cause of the short life of these roads built under modern construction and under the supervision of our able commissioners? Is it on account of the heavy travel, or the slighting of the work by the contractors? I have heard it laid to the material used, both as to quality and quantity.
If the government had followed the policy of Hamilton County (and Gig City) in building the Panama Canal, by appointing a commission composed of politicians to superintend its construction the canal would be as far from completion as the Missionary Ridge tunnel is.
If the county had the money it has paid out to commissioners for directing the expenditure of the proceeds of its bonds, it could afford to employ a man and a cart to keep the holes filled up on its roads, as the government does in Chickamauga Park.
But it costs 25 percent of the proceeds of the bond issue to spend the other 75 percent, and it is a question in the minds of some whether the county got value received for that.
Now it seems that another issue of bonds will be necessary to fill up the sinkholes left by the former commission. Verily, the people like sheep are led to the slaughter.”
(Any similarity to Aug. 21, 1913, and the ongoing discussions about the budgets in our city and county governments are purely coincidental!)
If you have additional information about one of Mr. Summers' articles or have suggestions or ideas about a future Chattanooga area historical piece, please contact him at jsummers@summersfirm.com)