The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1891-1893, 1893-01-20
Nat Atkinson, which were referred to the
commiffno

Mr.. Charles McNamee, Of Asheville,
discussed the subject of the benefit of
good roads and read extracts from the
reports of the various United States
consuls abroad, giving the experience of
other 'untries with good and bad roads
Resolutions were then offered and re
terred to the committee as follows:
Messrs. R 81. Lewis, Dale and Gastee.
Mr.. r 81. Hilton, Of Mecklenburg,
referred to the fact that his county had
the first road law in the state and called
on Capt. W. E. Audrey, who had been
largely instrumental in its passage, to ex-
plain the provisions. After very in
teresting description of the working of
this law by Capt W. E. Ardrey. Mr.
Hilton submitted in detail the operations
of the Mecklenburg road law.
Resolutions were then offered by
Messrs. r. M. Douglass, OF Greensboro.
j. Wooten, Ashley Horne, r. P. Mean
ally and F. 81. Bus Gee and referred to
the committee.
Prof. ]. NJ Bondy, of Trinity college,
presented valuable paper on road con
struction.
Interesting debates we're then listened
to, participated in by J.. A Bryan, of
Newbern, F. 81. Busbee. of Raleigh, R
N Hackett, OF Wilkesboro, ON the ques
ton Of the cooperative merits of property
poll and where taxation for the benefit of
public road improvement.
EVENING SESSION.
The evening session was called to or.
der at 8 O'Clock.
Capt. w. E Ardrey, frem the commit
tee on resolutions, reported tho follow
log:
Resolved, first, That it is the sense Of
this congress that the public roads should
be constructed and kept up by taxation
upon all the subjects OF taxation, within
the respective counties, partly by requir-
ing labor from those subject to road
duty, partly by the use of convict labor
as hereafter declared.
Second. that it is the sense of this
congress that the labor of said convic,s
As are not # quired by law to be impris
oned in the state penitentiary should be
employed in the construction and i'm
provement of the public roads. That
in the counties in which convicts
are numerous enough to he economically y
| employed, we suggest that the convicts
including those convicted of misdemean
| or and sentenced, to work out fines d
costs, be turned over to and worked by tie
counties; in others we advise that the
| convicts be sentenced to the penitentiary
and worked in detachments under the
management of that institution or of the
counties being employed in those coun
ties to be designated in some manner to
be provided by law in which the whole
of the expenses shall be borne by sucf
counties or so much thereof as the legis
lature may determine.
Third. That labor of delinquent able
bodied male Taxpayers, convicted of tht
non payment of taxes. be utilized upol
public roads in such manner as the legis
!ature may provide.
Fourth. That there should be sucl
legislation as tn require the boards o
county commissioners in every county t
employ competent engineer, an exper
in road building, to supervise and direc
the work of road improvement upon al
the public roads in the counties; tina
every county should own improved ma
chinery for road making. If desired
several counties may unite in the EN-
|
Each resolution provoked argumen
and the first, second and fourth wer
adopted.
The debate on the third resolution
was very warm. a motion was m ,de t
table it which was lost but on reconsid
cratic: was carried.
Another motioE was made to recon
slider but declared out OF order.
Senator Pou, of Johnston, addresse
the chair. He did not want to 90 o
record as a member of a conventio
, which voted to work citizen side b
side with felon, for the non psymer
, of taxes. Taxes are debts and imprisor
ment for debt is barbarious. The resol,
tion should not be adopted.
Mr. F. 81 Busbee, of Wake, oppose
the resolution. he did not want
. adopted.
= A voice-The resolution is revolution
ary.
There we're speeches on both sides
, the question, and motion was made
,, strike out the third resolution. Tn
was adopted and the report of the cou
mittee adopted as it then stood Eco
, tanning the first, second and fourth res
!. lutions)
Captain McNamee, of Buucomb
spoke of the National league for GOO
roads and moved that committee
appointed to organize and establish
state branch of that league. Adopte
: and Messrs. Charles McNamee, chairma
= J. w. Wilson, F. q. Busbee. w.
. Ardrey and Prof ]. A. Holmes q
:, pointed.
A motion was made that the sar
, committee confer with the committee
: good roads from both branches of t
= general assembly. Adopted.
After passing resolutions of thanks
the officers Of the congress and the ci
zens for their courtesies, the congress q
,r journed sine die.