The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-08-01
ROADS.

farmer Is most vitality Interested
as are property holders OF every de-
scliption. A rayeler generally
feels safe in IA good road and where
churches and school houses are dot
red over the country. No people
at this day can afford to be without
the comfort and convenience OF
of good roads. They are a great
necessity and at the same time Il
very cheap luxury. 1t is a matter
Of establishment that u people
have done without them this long.
We know really very little about
the use of the square and compass
in making settlements, running
roads and the like. 1t is customa-
nv when a citizen fancies a spot in
the public road for a house he pc
titiors the authorities and has the
road changed, that is run in some
direction to suit his convenience or
interest to the detriment of the
public. 1t is high time the square
compass were applied, not only to
IL farmers but to Il highways
Tor more properly our low ways).
During the sitting of our last con-
stitutional convention, in a cOmmu-
nication to the "News" we endeav-
cred to print out and urge the
importance of the subject, the
necessity of new laws and the pro
priety of abolishing the present sys-
tenn entirely, but to no purpose.
Gov. Reid introduced an ordinance
into the convention, but no action
was had, and under the pressure of
what were considered more impor-
tant matters, this went by the
board. 1t is a great pity for the
prosperity of the State that this so
happened, hat our roads are not in
harmony with the age, nor even in
pace with our farm practice. 1t dOes
not take the eye of an expert to
discover that they + but mere
drains and bitches. Let any one be
caught in a shower of rain and
watch the water as it collects and
courses the road as if it were the
main channel of the stream. Let
any n call to mind any public
road in middle or western Carolina
where this is not the case end we
will warrant it a very rar excep-
ton. That the present system is
worn out and a failure the roads
themselves Will bear ample testi-
mony.
40 one will deny or fail to see that
good roads enhance the value of
real estate. That the present sys-
TEN is unequal and unfair in its
bearings, ride by where the hands
are at work and see who they are.
That the laborer is interested. in
good roads is true, but that the
property holders is more interested
and benefited is equally true. The
courts have exhausted themselves
in enforcing the present laws, but
the roads are not one whit i'm
proved; on the other hand us they
are worn and cut up and washed
down, they grow worse. 1t is
manifest hat the people do not
intend ever to enforce the present
laws. I Upon the principle that
every man Is patriotic and will do
right, the theory of the system is
well enough. But it is hard to oct
a man to present another for prose-
cution for what he considers a
volunteer contribution to the
public good. 1t is a poor principle
to exact money from publ, officer
when he does no work or does bad
and then when he does good work.
fail or refuse to pay him for it.
That is the most costly system, let
any one make an examination of
the implements used in road work
ing and the time spent at work
with these tools and he will see it.
The object of every hand is to
consume the day, kill time and
effect as little good as possible,