The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-11-09

NOIiANl SCiuticli NdIl W SlNNI Oy lllS
little urchin, but the definition OF good
roads is supposition with the most of
US, having a lifetime experience with
the first and a historical evidence of
the latter.
Beyond the field of politics there is
no question that engages SO much at
tention throughout the country as the
road question in its various bearings.
Our people in certain sections are
awake to the necessity of better roads
as never before, and they are willing
to bear a just proportion of necessary
taxation for road improvement where
such taxation is consistent with the re-
quirements of population and the tax
able property is able to bear the ex
pense without being burdened by it.
There is want felt throughout our
whole State for better roads and q con-
viction that the old and present meth
DDS of making and repairing roads by
a personal service is expensive and in
adequate to accomplish its object prop
ely. The Importance Of having good
roads is appreciated by all, but it is
not easy to devise any detailed plan
which will suit the circumstances Of
the thinly settled portions of the State
and Of those which are densely popu-
lated and highly IMPROVED or which
shall provide for the accommodation
of the traveller and protect the tax
payers in their rights. 1t is doubtful
whether our people as whole are yet
quite ready to submit to additional
burdens in the shape of road taxes.
What, then, can be done? This is
the practical question. All will con-
Cede that, if our property was taxed
FOR the improvement of our roads and
iudiciously expended under the direc
ton of experts skilled in the art of
making roads by actual experience,
much more could be accomplished,
but it is doubtful whether there will be
general assent to a plan like this.
Therefore the one prominent essential
to the attainment of road reform is
organization.
A favoring public opinion must first
be developed and directed in the
channel which tends to the most Ger
tain and lasting success.
Public sentiment is in sympathy
with us, and the requirement IS a we'll
settled plan to carry it out. Must this
be done by using convict labor and a
levy Of road tax? We want good
roads, we must have them, and the
sooner the subject is practically con
sidered by worthy, competent and ex-
perienced men, the sooner will the re-
form movement be substantlated. Our
united strength is needed to give it a
right direction.
Poor roads we know are a tax on
the farmers mind, morals, bank &C
count, stock and vehicles, tax that
tears down, but does not build up,
and if one half Of this was put on the
road annually in a judicious manner
we should see an improvement that
would be wonderful. 1t is an easy
matter to talk about good roads and
bad roads, but the best way to get at
a feasible plan to attain this end is the
question. To build good, permanent
roads requires money and no little OF
it, therefore this first essential must be
settled by an equitable plan to get it.
The next requisite is the labor. Should
it be convict or free labor ? | contend
the convicts of the State should dc
road labor absolutely. At this kind OF
work they will not be competing with
honest labor. With the advantage OF
all the improved road making ma
chinery, Telford- -Macadam road six
teen feet wide, an average depth o.
eight inches, would cost eighty-foul
cents per lineal foot, using hired labor
at one dollar per day of ten hours, OIL
s4,435.2o per mile. This estimate
does not include grading, draining
etc. With convicts the same road can
be built for thirtyeight cents per linea'
foot or S1,5S5 per mile, a difference
of S2,S52.2o. These estimates, are
| subject, of course, to notifications BY
various local conditions. With these
illustrations Of economy, why should
not a law be enacted requiring eacI
county to work her own ConvlCts or
her roads and levy a tax for their sup
port and maintenance? Some Of ou
counties have such law in effect, viz
Wake, Mecklenburg, Forsyth, Durham
and others, and the experiment IS eff
feCtual and economic. In this Wake
county, the average cost per mile 70
grading and rocking our roads varies
owing to the heavy grading GALL th'
hills are being reduced to an ample @
or an ascent Of one foot in thirty linea
feet), the locality and cost OF material
The lowest cost has been about SI,75o
the highest near $1,000. The latte
includes heavy grading, permanen
draining and the building Of bridge
with stone or brick piers.
| am sorry that time forbids me dis
cussing the grading, width Of roadway
preparation of the road bed, thorougI
drainage, foundation course, surfac
layer, rolling, the Telford and Mac
adam systems, etc, but will say tha
after a road IS once built it must no
be assumed that it will forever remain
in a first-clasS condition without pay
ing any further attention to it.
On the contrary, it will require
great deal of care and unless neede'
repairs are made at the proper time
the new road may not prove as grea
> an improvement as was expected.