The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1897-10-28
THE ROAD CONGRESS.

THE ROAD COSSkEss.
On "Wednesday night during Fair
week Road Congress was held in the
courthouse in this city. While very
little of Importance was done, yet il is
to be hoped that much good will re-
suit from the movement there put on
foot. 1t is hard to overestimate the
value OF good roads, especially to the
farmers who must haul their products
to the markets.
We now have law on the statute
books allowing any county to apply
for convicts from the penitentiary, to
be used in building roads for the coun-
ty, providing the county will bear the
expense of the same. A few counties
have taken advantage Of this law.
Only the other day Cabarrus applied
for fifty convicts. THE CAUCASIAN
would be glad to see every convict in
the penitentiary used in this way. 1t
is better than attempting to use them
to raise wheat, corn and cotton at a
| loss. The labor Of these convicts put
on the public roads would be perma-
nent and lasting benefit, which would
be enjoyed, not only by ourselves but
by future generations.
The present law, however, we think
could be improved. We throw out this
suggestion for what it is worth. Sup
pose the next legislature should pass
law providing that certain number
of convicts should be taken by the
penitentiary authorities and put to
work upon the roads of counties that
will vote the largest amount of mon
ey. to assist in maintaining the con-
victs that IS, the county voting the
largest percentage of money in pro-
portion to the taxable amount Of prop
erty in that county shall have the con-
victs first, or a larger per cent. of them.
This would make it certain that the
convicts would at once be put on the
public roads of the State, under State
management; and no county could
complain, for the one that would con-
Vic ulOSt W "di1Udiu t.leH
would be served first.
One of the great troubles in road
building has been he want Of correct
and scientific knowledge as to how to
build the best road for the least money.
Therefore, there should be established
| a State Road Commission, with COM
| petent mon on it who would LAX the
time and rouble thoroughly in1v IN
themselves. White the penitentiary
authorities would manage the convict
forces, the Road Commission should d.
rect how the work should be done.
With a Road Commission composed
of men like Professor J. A. Holmes,
our m ost efficient State Geologist, the
work of road building would be sue
worthy of careful consideration.
THE STATE vs.. THE WESTERN UNION
| TELEGRAPH co.
We publish in this issue the answer
of the State in the Western Union
Telegraph Case. 1t will be remembered
that this monopoly got an injunction
from Federal Judge, restraining the
State from enforcing the reduction of
telegraph rates from twenty-five cents
to fifteen cents, as ordered by the
Commission.
The answer of the State, whieh was
prepared, we understand, by the States
attorneys, is very strong and inter-
esting document. 1t shows that the
Western Union Telegraph Company
has been charging the people rates
high enough to pay six per cent.
dividend on about one hundred million
watered stock, after paying its Presi-
dent salary of 100000 L year and
other enormous salaries all fixed
charges, while the real value of the
telegraph lines is less than fifteen mil
lion dollars. In short, the Western
Union Telegraph monopoly has been
. charging the public profit of over
e thirty per cent. on every telegram sent
t The statement of the facts set out
7 prove that if telegraph rates were re.
e duced to ten cents, that the Western
r Union Company would still make prof
g its bigger than are made by any Other
= business in the State, except the bank
e ing and railroad business and othel
businesses monopolized into trusts.
D When this case comes up for trial
e which is the first week In November
: the States's attorneys can establish .
e great many more facts than they hav,
e set out in the powerful document which
= we publish. Let them put the Presi
e dent and officers of the Western Uniol
e Telegraph Company on the witnes
b stand, and force them by direct an,
searching questions to either perjur
d themselves or to tell the whole truth
r There is nothing that the Western
d Union Telegraph Company fears 8
e much as an Investigation. The Stat
now has an opportunity to force an IN
}; yestigsti0n under oath. Let it
o done, and done thoroughly.
ri Since the above was written tn
g CAUCASIAN has information whic
l. leads it to believe that the Wester
st Union Telegraph Company is attempt
& ing to work deal with the Railwa
Is Commission. We understand that tn
Western Union wants to withdraw it
It INJUNCTION so as to remove the trial {
Re the case from the courts and to reman
ct it to the Commission. There is nott
n ing that the Western Union fears 6
20 much as an investigation. Beside
is they know that it can be proven i
ID court that q fifteen cent rate is NJ
,e only high enough, but too high. There
lie fore, their plan seems to be to get til
n G0m m IN RI ponand tho oaeo ~