Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-07-19
WHAT The ROAD BUILDERS DID.
Proceedings of an Important Congress-
Held In Charlotte Last Week.

Proceedings of an Important Congress
Held In Charlotte Last Week.
The Charlotte Observer summarizing
the work of the recent Road Builders
Congress and Institute held at Char
lotte, July lila, says:
The Road Builders Congress and In
stitnte which has been in session here
this week and which ended its work
today has been notable gathering in
many respects. Much of the success
of the congress is attributable to the
energetic work of Prof. ]. A. Holmes,
state geologist of North Carolina, who
has been and is still doing great work
for the material development of North
and South Carolina, as well as the
whole south, in directing the intelIi-
gent consideration at this time Of a
problem which lies very near the whole
question of the industrial developments
of the south.
The congress just ended was called
for the purpose of training road.build,
ers in the practical problems of road
construction, always having in view
the wisest and best expenditure of
every dollar of road funds any CON-
munity may have, the best advantage
for lasting and permanent results.
A convention called with such pur-
pose could not well be barren of re-
suits. Every section of North Carroll
ma 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 a
progressive and determined spirit is
abroad. Especially will this appear
more fully when it is remembered that
Chester, Newberry, Greenville, York,
Edgefeld, Anderson, and other South
Carolina counties, as well as such rep
resentative North Carolina communi-
ties as Cabarrus, Asheville, Morgan
ton, Guilford, Statesville, Wilmington
Burlington, Fayetteville, Wadesboro,
Tarboro, Forsyth, Greensboro, Sails
bury, Orange, Haywood, Rowan, Bun
combe, Iredell were represented in
the congress. These communities
practically include all the sections of
the Carolinas which are now giving at
tention to the construction of modern
public roads.
In this connection, it may not be
amiss to speak a word as 10 the per-
sonnel of the congress. Every men,
Der of it manifested the most intense
interest in all the sessions of the insti-
tute. These men were all practical
roadbuilders, men actually engaged in
the work of road construction, and
hence what they saw and learned here
this week must tell for great industrial
good. That such men as General Roy
Stone and Mr.. NJ. o. Eldrdge, of the
road inquiry bureau of the agricul'
raj department, Washington, D. c.,
were interested in this meeting and at
tended it, and by their counsel and
knowledge, aided its work, is signifi-
cant. Road engineers, county COM
missioners, road supervisors, street su-
perintendents, cotton mill men and
many others deeply interested in the
material welfare Of this section, COM
posed the personnel of this roadbuild-
ers' institute. All these saw modern,
scientific roadbuilding in actual pro-
gress and were surprised to learn that
the people of this community were so
absolutely unit in favor of the sys.
tenn now in operation here, as we'll as
unit in favor of the tax which sup
ports and furthers such road construc-
ton.
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 d
means of accommodation 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 first.
All were impressed, too, with the great
Importance of the proper relocation of
all important roads, so as TO give them
grades not exceeding per cent also
with the fact of the great Importance
of having the macadamizing and re-
location of all roads done under the
most competent supervision. Every
body was convinced, by the actual OBJ
servation of the mistakes Mecklenburg
had once made, of the folly of going to
any expense to macadamize improperly
located roads, thus at great cost perpet-
uating something which will be him
derance to the easy communication
among the people for all time. 1t was
agreed, too, that as rapidly as possible
the old labor system must be abandoned
as unjust and inefficient, and some sys-
tenn of working the public roads by
taxation substituted for system which
has impeded all permanent road i'm
provement for more than century.
The resolutions of the congress favor