Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1893-05-30
IMPROVE COUNTY ROADS
WHAT BUNCOMRE NEEDS IN
THIS LINE.
An Enterestinx Letter From state
GeOlOKlst Holmes TO senator
CannpbelI-KnOxx Drummer
Wagons In HBunconabe

Recently State Senator John NJ. Camp
bell of this city received from the State
Geological Survey a copy of the Bulletin
on Roads, issued by this department.
He was so impressed by the publication
that he wrote for SO extra copies of the
Bulletin. In reply to his letter he re-
ceived the following communication
from Prof. ]. A. Holmes, the State Geo
loglst, which contains so much of general
interest to Ashcville and Buncombe
county that Senator Campbell has
kindly consented to allow THE CITIZEN
to print it. Prof. Holmes says:
Il am glad that you think we'll of
the Bulletin on Roads, and send you by
express the extra copies for which you
ask. l most sincerely hope that the
people of Buncombe county will vote
the $3.50, 600 in bonds for improving
our public roads. She will never regret
this step. Many counties haye voted
this amount and more, and not one of
them has gone back on the movement,
or shown any desire to do so--bccause
everywhere in America, Europe, Aus
tralia and other countries, money in
vested in good rods has brought better
and more prompt returns than almost
any other investment, and it brings
good returns to every citizen, poor or
rich, whether he rides walk.
II know of no other county in North
Carolina where money invested in better
roads will bring larger and more prompt
returns than in Buncombc. The steady
growth of Asheville in size and
wealth is a matter of pride with cvery
citizen of the State; and her street
Improvement during he past year, and
now in progress, is doing much to make
much yet to be done Ashevile should
be the center for information, trade.
and influence for practically all your
mountain counties and she is gaining
in the accomplishment of this aim. But
the victory is far from being won. AS
l travel through that region find drum
mer wagons from Knoxville and other
places selling goods at country stores
even within the borders of Buncombe
county. Good roads leading out in every
direction from Ashevillc would do much
to remedy this condition of things.
But the people of Buncombe county
cannot expect the people of Ashevie to
do more than their share in this great
work OF public improyenent; and the
people OF the county should understand
clearly that as long Ashevillc has
good streets and the county has poor
roads, as is now the case, Ashcville will
Tbe traveing in pubic % not sHfsr sa1c
the railroads for the country as
long as the pub roads continue
| rough and muddy they now are. Nor
Will intelligent and thrifty farmers pur-
chase land and settle iu country regions
w here these roads exist
During the past two wears the Geo
logical Survey has been investigating the
mineral and timber resources OF these
mountain counties, and we will distrib-
ute reports on some OF these subjects at
the Worlds Fair. We have also pre-
pared and will exhibit at Chicago a
| number OF large photographs illustra-
ting the scenery of the mountain region
We are doing everything possible by
these means. and by exhibiting samples
OF our minerals and timbers at the
Worlds Fair, to attract capital and set
tiers to this region during the next few
wears. But do what we NAV in these di
rections the bad roads of the region
stand as barrier in the way of ma
ter1al development of the country. l do
hope that Buncombe county will make a
| great step forward by going to work in
earnest to have good roads"
Senator Campbell will distribute the
Bulletins sent him among the magis-
trateS OF the county when they meet
here next Monday.