The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-07-25
No. "a

ers in the practical problems of road
construction, always having in view
the wisest and best expenditure Of
every dollar of road funds any com
munity may have, the best advantage
for lasting and permanent results.
A convention called with such pur.
pose could not we'll be barren of re.
suits. Every section of North Caro-
lima which is now doing any good road
building, as we'll as many sections of
South Carolina, had representatives
at this congress, thus manifesting that
progress sive and determined spirit is
abroad. Especially will this appear
more fully when it is remembered that
Chester, NeWberry, Greenville, York,
Edge6eld, Anderson, and other South
Carolina counties, as will as such rep
resentative North Carolina communi-
ties as Cabarrus, Asheville, Morgan.
ton, Guilford, S5atesville, Wilmington,
Burlington, Fayetteville, Tarboro,
Wadesboro, Forsyth, Greensboro,
Salisbury, Orange, Haywood, Rowan,
Guilford, Buncombe, Iredell were rep
resented in the congress. These COM
munities practically include all the
sections Of the Carolinas which are
now giving attention to the construc.
tion of modern public roads.
In this connection, it may not be
amiss to speak a word as to the per-
sonnel of the congress. Every mem.
Der of it manifested the most intense
interest in all the sessions of the insti-
tute. These men were all practical
road builders, men actually engaged
in the work of road construction, and
hence what they saw and learned here
this week willteII for great industrial
good.
That such men as General Roy Stone
and Mr.. M. O. Eldridge, of the Road
Inquiry Bureau of the Agricultural
Department, Washington, D. O., were
in terested in this meeting and attended
it and by their counsel and knowledge
aided its work, is significant. Road
engineers. county commissioners, road
supervisors, street superintendent,
cotton mill men and many others
deeply interested in the material vel
fare of this section, composed the per-
sonnel OF this road builders institute.
All these saw modern, Scientific road
building in actual progress and were
surprised to learn that the people Of
this community we're 30 absolutely
unit in favor of the system now in
operation here, as well as a unit in
favor of the tax which supports and
furthers such roe d construction.
The lessons to be learned at an insti-
tute of this kind are worthy of note.
For instance, it was the unanimous
opinion of all that the salvation Of the
South lies in better highways as a
means of inter communication and
easier business relations among the
people; that the building of permanent
stone roads even In small counties
should be a purpose ever kept in the
minds of all, though that work in
many cases must be necessarily slow
at fret. All were impressed, too, with
the great Importance Of the proper re-
location of all important roads, 30 as
to give them grades not exceeding 4
per cent; also with the fact Of the
great Importance of having the mac,
adamizing and re location OF all roads
done under the most competent super
vision. Everybody was convinced,
by the actual observation OF the mis-
takes M9cklenburg had once made, Of
the folly of going to any expense to
mRcadamiz9 improperly located roads,
thus at great cost perpetuating some
thing which will be a hindrance to
easy communication among the people
for all time. 1t was agreed, too, that
as rapidly as possible the old labor sys
tenn must be abandoned as unjust and
inefficient, and some system Of work
ing the public roads by taxation sub
stituted for a system which has i'm
peded all permanent road improve
ment for more than a century.
The resolutions Of the congress favor
able to the use of broad tires and the
establishment OF State highway com
missions to further modern road build
ing, as we'll as the resolutions urging
the abolition of the present system of
working the convict5 on State farms
and transferring them to the public
roads, thus establishing a system Of
State aid to permanent stone road
building, were highly creditable and
along the line of the best thought rela-
tive to highway improvement.