The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-02-16
THE MBoKLENBURG ROADS.
Examined by Delegation of Legislators
Who Visited Charlotte ON Saturday.

Examined by Delegation of Legislators
Who Visited Charlotte ON Saturday.
The thirty members of the General AS
sembly who spent last Saturday examin-
ing the Macadam roads which Mecklen-
burg county is building with her convicts,
have returned to the capital greatly pleas
ed and encourag ed by what they saw
and with the treatment they received.
They express the regret that they did
not carry with them the entire legisla-
ture so THAT all could have dropped poll
tics for day, at least, and could have
seen how the progressive people of Neck
lenburg are solving the good roads pro
blem and the convict problem at the
same time.
They say that while these splendid
roads cost money, the farmers living a
long them, by selling, stone, provisions
and other articles get back a part, and
often more than their tools amount to
and this work keeps this tax money IN
circulation among the people of the coun-
ty and then the saving in the use of
these good roads is so great that in spite
of their cost the investment is such
good one that Mecklenburg county is
getting rich on it.
Smaller and poorer counties must join
in this movement for good roads or they
will become poorer still. To become dis
Outraged because they cannot move for
ward as fast nor on as big a scale as
Mecklenburg or Wake would be as unwise
as for farmer to give up trying to raise
a crop because he could not run a hum
dred plows.
The following resolutions illustrate the
impression made upon our representa-
tiyes by their examination, and these
conclusions were concurred in by the
visitors who met them, these, from
Massachusetts, Maryland and South
Carolina.
We. the committee of members of the
Senate and House of Representatives Of
the State OF North Carolina, invited to
visit and inspect the roads of Mecklen-
burg county, having performed this duty
| find,
First. That the county which led the
State and the Union in the struggle for
freedom from British rule, has also led
the State and the South in the grand
struggle for prosperity and freedom
from mud
Second, That the wonderful growth in
prosperity, the increase in value of farm
ing lands and the greater employment
Of labor at remunerative prices, instead,
Of starvation wages, is in a great meas
ure due to the better facilities for trans
portation. Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, first. That we are convinced
that next to educational facilities the
greatest factors IN the upbuilding of our
State will be the improvement of our
public highways, and through this means
the abolition Of the fiye-million dollar
tax which our present bad roads impose
annually upon the people of this State.
Second, That Mecklenburg county has
the best roads and best system of work
ing roads in the State, and,
Third, If there is a more kindly, gem
ial and hospitable people than the inhab-
itants of the Hornets Nest" they have
never crossed our path, and,
Fourth, That we extend our thanks
10 the citizens of Charlotte for their
thoughtful kindness in providing FOR our
comfort and pleasure while in their
midst, and to the State Good Roads
League for the kindness shown ms while
en- roue, through its secretary.
A. j. MOVE,
G. NJ. CREECH,
]. NJ. TERRELL.
s. III. LYLE,
For the Committee.