The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-05
ORR HIGHWAYS.

l -
Nov. 21st published the address
and commented upon the subject
editoria'ly. Among the good
things said on the subject we note
the following:
The enormous increase IL rail-
roads has re suited IN proportion
ate neglect OF ordinary roadways'
The average country rOal Is far
from being what it easily might b.
and even its present condition IS
not maintained in an economical
m inner. THIS is the natural result
Of rapid tran it between markets.
But q reaction air adv b gins TO
show itself. as the population OF the
rural districts multiplies AMI the
demand for good highways increas-
es in proportion. Col Pope IS laoor-
inc to stimulate this improvement
by laying before the people the best
ideas upon roadmaking and road
me ding. His connect on with the
bicyc'e trade naturally interests him
ID this subject and has led hum TO
make thorough study Of it. While
whe> linen are anxious for the i'm
orovement of the roads, it is a sub
Iect of still greater Importance 10
those who employ teams of any
kind to transport produce, Ninety
nine per cent. OF every load by
railroad. steamboat, or express baa
been carried III a wagon or truck
over highway. Thns even steam
tran sportatiOn is mea,urably Deepen
dent for support on the draught
horse and his load.
Throughout this State and the
whole country are farms. elght o.
ten miles from the railroad, whose
value is at a minimum, yet which
were the roads intersectlng them OF
he first class, WOuld at once rise IN
value were they twice as far from
steam transportation. Good roatS
are national benefit. All business
originates in natural product which
must find its way over a common
highway before it can reach a
market and attain its full value
Smooth. hard roads drained
and easily trayeI- LhFoug1 q
large part of the year furnish this
outlet. and alone can furnish it
To neglect the highways IS worse
than TO neglect fences and WOO ipiles
and weeds"
The same condition Of affairs
exists in North Carolina that the
above, quoted from the B4ffalt
Express, describes for New York
and many other States. The ques
ton of improving the public roads
in the state ls engaging the atten
ton of the people III every section
1t costs much more to keep a ba(
road in repair than a good one. A
road once put III good condition /;
not half so hard to keep so. An(
no one will question the statemen
that there is economy in good roads
Teams last longer it takes less
feed for them and they can do {
third more work on a good rOat
than on bad one.
1t Is economy of time. feed, value
of teams and OF everything elst
connected with road transportation
Even the wheels of carts and wag
Ons will last much longer run owe
a good road than over bad one.
We suppose that no one will sa,
anything against the improvement
of oar highways. The question t.
be considered most seriously is
What can be done that VIII give u
better roads for all and at the SAM
time avoid any hardship on an,
class by having the roads improved
| Some say that the most economi
cal and just method for wOrkin!
and improving the roads is by tax
alton. Others say that if the road
are worked by taxation then tt
few property owners Will have {
bear the whole burden Of keepin;
| up the highways for others to wea
out who get perhaps more benefi
from the good roads than the proI
erty owners themselves.
Still others say that to work an
improve the public highways b
taxation, especially In the easter
part of the State where the negr
population is so dense, would
Overburd ening the white people
tor they are already paving nearI
all the taxes for the education {
the negrO-and then to free hir
from road duty, which work b
taxation would effectualIy do. woul
be almost enslaving the white pc,
pie for the negroes. And so I'll
question stands. There are arg
ments both ways.
Here is what THE DEMoCRA
would be willing to: Let the tax,
: paid By the negroes be expende
f on them and the taxes paid by Il
white people be expended on thel