The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1869-06-02
Roads,.

Roads. = q
The public highways of a State are the
surest test of its prosperity. It would not
be improper to say that the degree of
States civilization could be determined by
the character and condition of its Roads.
Romc's great paved highways remain 'eter-
nal" as herself, to testify to her greatness
and as proofs of the skill of her engineers.
Her Via Appia, Via Aurela and the Via
Flamia, however, had their idea borrowed
from Carthage, once a great civilized and
commercial people. These great public
thoroughlares were the charge of the State,
and were built for the public welfare. Our
modern system of Railways supercedes the
ancient paved roads, and they now, as did
the former, show the measure of a States
activity and business. Yet these great arte-
ries of the State by which her commerce and
travel are carried on are not all the roads
that are important to the State, or necessary
to the convenience and prosperity OF the
people The common roads of the State
that lead to her Railroads and that afford
means of transit, speedy and safe, to all
points'of its territory, are equally Important
and as dearly indicative of its condition.
BY the provisions of our new Constitution
the care and control of roads is committed
to the county Commissioners who put the
Township Board of Trustees in charge with
them in their several jurisdictions. No more
important trust is committed to these cor
porations. No other public officers can Go
so much for public convenience and pros
perity, or so greatly retrieve the State from
its bad reputation for shiftlessness and
Sleepy Hollow-old fogyism as the Town
ship officials.
Having had for many years ample expert
ence in the use of North Carolina public
roads, and hoping still further to test their
utility and comfort, we most earnestly ad-
dress ourselves to the several Boards of
County Commissioners and implore them to
give immediate and earnest attention to
this great and important public. duty.
There is need that at once very many
roads that by law are public roads should
be closed They are not needed for the
public convenience. They start noaohere and
lead to nothing. They should have one of
their number, with the county surveyor. ex-
anime into this matter at once and report
speedily. Further, many of the public
roads need to he made straight. They are
crooked and involved without cause or ex-
cuse. They have been diverted from direct
course 10 satisfy the within or sefishhess of
some large planter, willie the public have
been compelled to waste time and money in
overcoming additional weary distances. We
hope the slOD days of the old State are now
| 'past and gone forever" and that men no
| longer can afford to wind all about the
| country TO reach their destination.
Next, then, the public roads must be re
constructed" Set each Township at once
| to work on their roads-madc direct and
reduced in number and distance. Require
them to be well ditcled and graded made
| easy and safe for travel Introduce new
and better way entirely, so that some per-
manency shall attach to the labor bestowed
on them. Institute rivalry between the
several Townships of a county as well as be
tween the different counties of the State.
Besides this some ne,o public roads are need
ed; roads to points ON the new Railroads;
to steamboat landings on the rivers; to ris-
ing factories on our streams. We must have
speedy access to every place needed for pur-
poses of trade or pleasure to be visited, so
that strangers and travellers need suffer no
delay or inconvenience in their business
| plans Attention at once to our roads will
do more to prove that we are awake and
alive as State than anything else we can
do. 1t williDduce immigration. Strangers
can have ingress to every portion of our vast
territory. 1t will greatly increase the value
of our lands. 1t will stimulate the activity
of the people. Messrs Commissioners, look
after this part of your official work Assign
to the Township Trustees, as soon as they
are qualified, the work for their town, and
require speedy attention TO it. The whole
land will bless you you do this-if not.