The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1894-09-21
Road Convention.

From III" proceedings &C TIE Road Asso-
ciNiou which met at Charlotte on the 18th
and 18th last We Gull some things which We
hoIe will be of interest TO the lovers of good
roads.
The first meeting was he'd in the city hall
aud was called TO order by II. J. Brevard,
the President who is also mayor Of Char
lctte. After some prclemuaries he vel
coined the delegates and then stated that the
assccintion was ready for business. Several
Of the delegates responded in short happy
speeches, among them one of our own citi-
zcns, Mr.. L. NJ. jolly, Of Spartspburg, who
said that he had been on the Spartanburg
county board for IL years and he had come
to the convention to find out how to make
roids. There were remarks made by several
others afer which the convent on adjourned
to meet again at 2: 80. The first session
was well attended. There we're $50 dele
gates representing great many counties of
the Id North State and some from other
states. Mr.. J. s. Welch was present and
represented our county Promptly at $50
the convention re.assemblcd, but had hardly
time I" do anything before some one sug
ges,ed that the convention 60 out and look
at the work that was being dcne and come
and do their talking by gas light. That
was COOL idea 1t met the appreciation of
the body and was accordingly adopted.
When they re-asscmbled at eight o'c'ock
there was a right much larger crowd than
at the other meetings. good many of them
not delegates. A number of these had come
in on the trains in the evening, and some of
them from the surrounding country, all
interested in good roads. Capt. S. b.
Alexander, being called upon as one who
was well acquainte with the history of the
work on the Reads, arose and gave in out
line the work from its incipicncy. lie told
of the trouble he had had in getting the bill
through the Legislature and said it seemed
that the state had determined that Meek
lenburg should not have good roads lie
said moreover that the bill was not drawn
for Mecklenburg but for every county in the
state, aud would fit any county. He said
that they had found difficulties when they
first begun to utilize convict labor but that
now they had found out what good roads are
and that soon they would radiate from
Charlotte in every direction. lie said that
to make the system most completely success
full every county should adopt it, and thus
complete net work Of roads from one
county 10 another.
What Have Our Good Roads Done for
the Farmers of Mecklenburg County" was
read by Capt. Ardrey. 1t was as follows
III is difficult" said he, "to estimate the
value Of good roads TO the farmers or 10 the
community, for the benefits or returns come
indirectly and not directly in dollars and
cents, aud, therefore, cannot be easily
counted, and owing to the late financial
crisis that we have had and are now having,
it is difficult to properly estimate the value
Of improvements, and they are SO numerous
that it is difficult to estimate them and only
n few can be noticed in this article.
$50 Il roads have improved our farmers
morally, socially and intelIigently, by bring
ing them in closer contact with each other,
and improving the facilities for attending
church and schools, extending the circle of
society. and cnlarging the measure of our
acquaintance. They improve commerce by
bringing the people nearer to market and
rendering transportation easier and cheaper,
making 1t easier and less expense 10 trans
port two tons than one, or two bales of cot
ton than one. The difference here is about
one TO four. One horse or mule can draw
on the macadamizcd reads four bales of
cotton with as much ease as he can one on |
the old roads. They have saved thousands |
of dollars TO the farmers in the way Of minor |
products. On the OH roads it COS t more to |
market wood eight or ten m lies than il would |
briLg on the market. So also, our fruits |
and vegetables have been lost until our roads |
were imI rovc1. Our farmers have sold |
thousands CT dollars of wood, melons, fruits, |
vegctab cS and other products that would |
not pay to transport over bad roads, and |
heretofore have been lost and the easier |
and cheaper marketing these products has |
encouraged diversified farming, which brings |
money TO the farmer in all seasons Of the |
year and makes bis living ut home better.
Good roads h"ve enhanced the value Of the |
land, invited new settlers, cnfUsed new life |
and energy i'll the citizens. The farmers |
take more pride IN keeping gooi stock and |
good vehicles, for 1t il a real pleasure to |
drive good team over a good road. 1t ex- |
cites the pride of even our cOlored teamstcrs
Good roads have stimulated the farmers TO |
improve their lands and premises, because
they are brought more into notice: for we do |
not like for our lands to appear poor and
our houses dispidated. aud for the Same
reason they have encouraged improved
farming and stock raising. The improved
roads have brought about better social
feeling and closer business relations between
the citizens of Charlotte and the country by
Offering better facilities for the people Of the
city TO visit their friends in the country
and vice versa aud if all our roads were
many of our wealthy citizens
of the city would delight in owning farms in
the country. and our farmers would be better
satisfied with their country homes and their
"All the above is evidenced by q unani.
nous appeal from the people TO the coun-
~ commissioners TO speed on the work and
make all the roads in the county good. Every
man wants his road worked first and also
by "A willingness to pay the road taxes, for
We have no complaint now, and The pressure
is 50 great that the justices and commission
ers will be forced 10 drive some new method