The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-02-04
TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION.
WILMINGTON. n. C.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4 1898.
N ACAOAM .VER3U. MUD ROADS

There has been enough written and
published relative to the Importance
Of improved and good country roads to
states. But up ITO the present there are
comparatively but few improved roads,
and they are limited to but a few
states Some of the New England
states have given much TENTS to
Them, and liberal sums voted for their
progress has been made in This direc-
1fon- New Jersey has done excellent
Ty- In the south macadam roads are
III numerous. In North Carolina a
few have been made, but we do not
know the umGber OF miles. The SUD-
1ect is so constantly discussed in the
public prints, in addresses, in month
Hes, I'm 1egislations, it is bound to come
about one day when the people in
towns and the people on the farms
wIu become wild awake as to absolute
necessity and the great advantages to
be derived from good public country
roads. and they will unite to a them
constructed. Certain main roads lead
ing from the court house town in diff
ferent directions in the county will he
constructed. The macadam road is
doubtless the best road.
The Messenger has tried to do it's
part in enforcing the advantages of
good roads. Again and again it has
v~-a.ap1eA5 ON rs on5 etrnpufhopad
them with statistics showing how very
expensive bad roads were, and the
great advantages of the best possible
roads. 1t has been line upon line.
We lately gave some instructive facts
from the efficient state g~eologist, Pro-
fessOr Holmes. Nothing new a be
said fer so many persons have agitated
the matter and fortified arguments
with facts than LITTER all the new truths
-Of the day or but the Old truths of a
year or two years or five years ago.
THE supervisor of roads in New York
that ii cusls the farmer half as
much to haul produce three miles by
wagon az Vt costs to hau 500 miles by
railroad. Ard yet there are madmen
who look upon railroads as public en-
rF1nies to be hounded and oppressed.
The supervisor says, as we see him
quoted in the Washington Post, that
witt, a system of good macadaGn roads
"tle cost of the short haul could be
reduced so per cent, thus reducing the
whole cost of transportation from the
Kovupn fD f1oLa onCC1Iropn- Inv pnp-Siytn-
This, the supervisor figures out, would
A-"'e the farmers In amount each year
4..ual TO the interest on from $40 to
Sc n acre, according to h crop
lraIstd, and would increase the value of
the land, either to sell or to hold, by a
Ike amount
We referred above to the progress
made in New Jersey in the construc-
sfon OF macadam roads. When the
ss~+-nature eracted a law to aid in the
CONJUNCTION OF roads lit was met with
oppositi ton md by the who
were to be most benefited. The expe
rf7oenI was made, and it was so sat
{sfactoTy tn opposition ceased and the
farmers became enthusiasts in support
OF the law and the system growing
ont of it. The road commissioner pub
nshed recent statistics. 1t will be seen
Ans view is quite like the New York
commissioners view. He is quoted in
the New York Mai and Express as
showing that the saving on a bushel
OF wheat carted over good roads for
five miles is equivalent to THE s of
800 zines of transportation 10y steamer
or canal or of 375 miles by rail. 1t
costs 50 a ton to haul the farm produce
of the American farmer to market;
and if all the hauling were over good
roads, the total saving to the farmer
wouli be $500, 600, 900. The most expen-
sive part Of the journey of whea
from the field to the market is that
portion which lies between the farm
and the town or railway station. When
All is considered in the saving-horse
flesh, harness, wagons, etc., (the wear
and taar,) aid the small loads carried
NOW over bad roads, the advantage
Tor good roads is simply immense. The
Mail and Express says that it is Ito
be hoped that the New Jersey legisla-
fure viii pass the bill giving a rebate
Of taxes to farmers who use tires more
than three and one-half inches wide.
The use of broad tires may in time be
supplemented by the laying of steel
tracks, which will save four-fifths of
the power expended in hauling over
even an improved macadam road"
THE New York Sun is still bitter. It
was asked to name the best living
writer. There are '4too many kinds OF
..yrjtiDl" it Asays, to style any 'one