Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-07-30
From the North Carolina Standard


WASHINGTON COUNTY, July 10, 1847.
Mr.. EDITOR The contemplated road thro'
the States Swamp Lands, leading from Pun
go Lake to Long Ridge, hear Lees Mills in
Washington County, meets with general dis
appreciation by the citizens of this county
and | am told that the citizens of Hyde and
Beaufort also disapprove the making of said
road. The reasons generally assigned are,
that the road runs through swampy, barren
country; that it runs through an uninhabited
section of Swamps that the road Will not be
travelled, and therefore cannot. nor will not,
be kept up by the inhabitants at either end OF
the road that if the road is made, it must be
kept up by and at the expense of the State,
Gf kept up at all) and this expense the repre-
sentatives from these counties would not con-
sent to, if they consulted public opinion. The
writer of this communication has been &C
quainted with road made through a juniper
swamp half mile long only, for the space OF
35 years; this half-mle road is very public
one, and as much travelled upon perhaps as
any road in the eastern part of the State; il
was bad when it was made, (say 40 years a.
COZ and it still remains a bad road Now,
sir, venture the assertion that there has been
$4,000 in labor expended upon this road
half mile long and it is said that $4,000
would not now make it what would be deem.
ed a good road.
1t seems to be the general opinion: here thai
the Literary Board ought to take into consider
alton the old Turnpike Road leading from
Lighthouse Landing to Plymouth, "a road thai
has already cost the State S2,500); that the
appropriation of the last Legislature is suffi.
Gent to complete this old Turnpike road, and
make it good one; which would then be
| travelled in going or coming from Hyde coun.
ty and that the inhabitants at either end
would and could keep it up. Now let the
Literary Board adopt this old Turnpike Road
and make it good and then make new road
| from about hall way of this old Turnpike
Road to Pungo Lake, distance of about three
| miles, upon a high ridge of land. This road
would then reach the public swamp lands al
distance OF twelve or thirteen miles fronf-the
Roanoke river, which lands. say about ten OF
eleven thousand acres, are worth from ten &c
| fifteen dollars per acre. The balance of the
| public Swamp Lands is said to be about fifty
| thousand acres, and is low, sunken, boggy
savannah, which is worth only twenty five
cents Der acre, if worth anything. Now fol
this last assertion, no one need fear contradc
ton Men of forty Yeas experience, men oil
character and veracity, may and can be found
to sustain this assertion, if necessary, and sue
cessfully before any court and jury.
have been induced to make this communi
cation in order, if possible, to put an end tc
this humbug about the Swamp Lands OF N
Carolina belonging to the State. | am aware
that am opposing the assertions or the oPin.
ions of the Ex- Governors and others in high
places, notwithstanding l feel satisfied thai
they are greatly mistaken, but hope honest
" so. My prediction is, that they are doom
ed to see that the writer of this communities
ion is not mistaken.