The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-05
THE HOLMES ROAD BILL.


TO the Editor: ] have read the road
bill prefaccd by Prof. Holmes and which
was published in your paper of the 18th
ulto. 4 very large per cent. If the
Democrats III this section of the State
are strongly opposed To the bill.
The fusion legislature Of 1897 passed
4 very similar law for Hertford county
and have been told that Prof. Holmes
was the authereof that law. Ii was SC
objectionable to the white people of this
county. that they held mass meeting
and denounced it. and employed attor
neys TO prevent it. from being enforced
The act was declared demonstrations
by the present Supreme court at its fall
term, 1898 because it did not follow tho
constitutional equotion in leyying thC
tax. Sec State W.. Goodwin, 1913 Report
The fusionists who controlled the boards
of road supervisors refused to work thu
roads for two years, and the consequence
is we have some bad roads in our coun-
ty. but it was not due to the imperfect
road system formerly nforced, but be-
cause the old law was not enforced
The present general road law is ampl.
and sufficient. il enforced. Is property
TO bear all of the burdens of govern
ment? If so then property holders
should do all the voting and the weak
ing of laws. The negroes and non-prop
erty holders who share our taxes fol-
their schools. their county, their asy
lums. and their governments ought to he
made to give in return some relief to the
already hurdened property holders
OF course all of us would like to have
roads cGualing those ancient roads thai
lead into the old city of Rome. but W,
cannot afford it, We can not burden
our taxpayers like the royal family does
the subjects Of an Empire.
Prof. Holmes bill makes it too ey.
pensiye to put the same in operation. \
county superintendent of roads is /;
creature that the East has no ifse Cor.
Northampton county was made to work
its roads under fusion rule by taxation
| for two years. And | informed. that
about S15.000 was collected from III,
fax payers for road purposes. in he t'Hc
years, and today the roads and bridges
are worse than they have been since The
late civil war.
Aagain, it would be impossible 10 lccr
in order our roads. under any law. inn
posing only reasonable tax. when they
arc allowed TO be used by heavy lumber
wagons, as many of our roads are. haul
ing heavy logs and blowing M The roads
by their pondcrous wheels and weight
Provide against this. and you will great
ly improve the roads % the country.
THE PROPER WY.
IF it is the purpose DC the 'gi,ailIFc
to have collected Il road tax 'rhe Jaw
should provide for small road sax ~
property and fall to lie placed under he
control of the Board of Commissioners
of the county. and when he ordinary
system of working the roads is insuf!i.
cient 10 put in repair any part of any
road, let the commissioners contract rim
der proper safe guard. for the repair
ing of such part of the road, and pay
for it ont of the road fund. When once
put in good repair il can then be easily
kept i'll repair by the oyerseer system
This saves the expenses of so many sal
aricd officers. This has been tried in
Virginia and ii works well, is economical
and secures good roads.
The Holmes bill might do for some
of the western or mountain countless bnt
it is certainly unsited to the East. | am
not without experience in such matters
About six years ago ! accepted the over.
seership of road in my county. 1t was
then almost impossible and no one
would accept the office, | kept the office
for three years and turn il over to my
successor almost turnneic.
II. =. WINBOREE.