Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1893-01-21
ROAD CONGRESSES WORK
GOV. CARR TO SUBMIT =
PAPER THEREON.
RESOLUTIONS Emb0ny inx the Hrs st
Thought of the Conference
AdOpted-COnvict should re
IsmpIOved-Speec ches by E'rO1nf-
ment North CarOlinlans.

nent North CarOlinlans.
RALEIGH, Jan. 19.-The campaign of
education on the road question has been
opened, aid the speeches in the Road
Congress today showed that the people
have determined to grapple with the
curse of bad roads. and will remove the
incubus to the progress and prosperity
of North Carolina.
The large number of responses to roll
call at the opening session was sur
prise, generally expressed in the words of
a road delegate, Il never saw anything
like it." t-
Governor Carr in his address of well
come said he regarded the present sys-
tenn of working the roads as signal fail
ure, and that he was SO much interested
in the questions to come before the Con
gress that he would at an early date
submit paper on the subject for the
consideration of the Legislature.
After the election of permanent officers
the Congress was invited to continue it's
session in the House of Representatives,.
and the shivering delegates waded
through the snow to that point. When
Ex-Governor Holt appeared on the plat
form he was given warm reception,
and in response to a call he stated his
position to be that of an internal i'm
provemcnt man; he suggested the great
diversity of the needs in the various sec
tions of the State, and counselled Pru-
dent and conservative measures OF relief.
The Committee on order OF Business,
of which Charles McNamee is a member.
| reported the folio wing subjects at the
| afternoon session:
1. The benefit of good roads, and the
values saved by their use.
| 2. Is there any need at this time for
the improvement of our public roads
The special reasons therefor.
| 8. The kind of roadways needed in
various parts of North Carolina, and the
best manner of keeping them in repair.
| 4. Ways and means for building good
permanent public roads and maintain
ing them.
! 5. Suggestions for future organiza-
tion and miscellaneous subjects.
Many resolutions Hereunder were re.
ferred to the Committee on resolutions
for report at night.
Well received speeches were made by
State Geologist ]. A. Holmes, Charles
McNamee, F. A. Busbee. J. A. Bryan and
DIR. X. H. Lewis and many object lessons
on the all-absorbing subject taught.
An elaborate array of facts and figures
relative to the building and maintenance
of the macadam roads of Mecklenburg
was presented bv w. E. Ardry and S. H
Hilton.
:. The suggestions offered the Congress:
differed widely as to details, but al
agreed that the present agitation shall
not cease until the desired result is at
+ tanned.
The following resolutions were adopted
Resolved, first, That it is the sense @
this Congress that the public road
: should be constructed and kept up b.
/ taxation upon all the subjects of taxa
ton, within the respective counties
partly by requiring labor from thos
subject to road duty, partly by the use c
convict labor as hereafter declared.
Second That it is the sense of thi
, Congress that the labor of said convict
as are not required by law to be impri:
oned in the State peuitentiary should
> employed in the construction and IN
e provement of the public roads. That
p the counties in which convicts are nume
j, Gus enough to be economically employed
we suggest that the convicts, irc1udin
i those convicted of misdemeanor and SCI
: fenced, to work out fines and costs, t
:: turned over to and worked by the couI
It ties; in others we advise that the co,
e victs be sentenced to the penitentiar
e and worked in detachments under tt
r mana cement of that institution or of tt
e counties being employed in those COUNT,
: to be designated in some manner to
8 provided by law in which the whole
d the expenses shall be borne by sue
l. counties or so much thereof as the legi
lature may determine.
e Third, That there should be sus
legislation as to require the boards
county commissioners in every county
employ a competent engineer. an expe
in road building. to supervise and dire
. the work of road improvement upon {
the public roads in the counties; th
a every county should own improved m
chinery for road making: If desired, Sc
III eral counties may unite in the cmplo
L Inent OF a civil engineer"
g Among the prominent members of t
in Congress were Hon. T. M. Holt, Jo
" Robinson, commissioner of agricultul
y and Mai. ]. w. Wilson, of the Railro
'r commission. Randolph
ct what Is Your Life 2"