The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-01-06
The Governors Massage

ton will be embodied in forthcoming
report.
In conjunction with the United States
Department of Agriculture, investigation
is now being carried on as TO the rate
of growth under different conditions of
the most important timber trees of the
Eastern counties. In conjunction with
the United States Geological survey II
is continuing the work of preparing tne
large Typographical and geologic map OF
the State this work having been nearly
completed for the mountain counties. IN
conjunction with the United States Coast
Survey and with the cooperation of the
authorities of the several counties. the
survey is also establishing at all of the
county seats in the State Il magnetic
meridian post and standard measure
for surveyors chains in the expectation
that this will lead in the future to the
more accurate surveys of all lands and
boundary lines. Thus in the manten-
ance of the geological survey we secure
the active cooperation of these various
scientific bureaus at Washington in the
carrying on of all these Investigations
looking to the development of the State.
FOREST FIRES.
1t has been estimated by the experts
connected with both the Government and
the State Forestry Surveys that III
Eastern North Carolina especially, dur
ing the present century, more timber has
been destroyed by forest fires than has
been cut and sold as lumber, the losses
to the wealth of the State in this di-
rection amounting to hardly less than one
LII. nlxTN
months ago a single forest fire along the
border between North and South Caro-
lima is said to have destroyed. in two
days. one million dollars worth of prop
erty and fifteen lives. 1t is not as yet
clear how these destructive fires may be
prevented in North Carolina. but | beg
to call your attention 10 the fact that
during the past few years, legislation has
been enacted in Maine. New York, Penn
sylvania and some other States which
has. without any great cost to these
States. resulted in greatly diminishing
both the number and the destructiveness
of these fires. In some of the States.
notably Pennsylvania. / am informed
that this has been accomplished mainly
by empowering and requiring existing
county and township officials to take
the matter in hand and see to the rigid
enforcement of preventive laws. Whether
such a system could be successfully inau-
gurated in North Carolina. is Il matter
that can only be determined by investiga-
ton and experiment, but the subject is
one of sufficient Importance to deserve
your careful consideration.
IMPROVEMENT PUBLIC ROADS.
A more widespread and intelligent in
terest in the betterment of the publ
roads of the State is everywhere appa-
rent This interest has been steadily
growing during the last decade. and it is
evidently one of the most vital economic
problems now before the people. There
is need of better and more uniform legis-
lation i'm the interest of this movement
and at an early day a report will be pre-
sented to you embodying IN abstract of
the different county and State road laws
now in operation, and also much infarna
ton concerning methods Of road build
ing There is also great need in this
State for more intelligent and experienced
road engineers and supervisors. so as
to avoid wasting Of money and labor in
carrying out worthless plans for work.
Our people should realize that the build
ing of good public roads requires as
much training and experience rs does the
building of railroads. The system of
compulsory labor on public roads has
been abandoned in most enlightened coun-
tries. In our State it is question: bic
whether we are in Il position to adopt
any uniform system upon this subject.
because Of the wide variance Of the con-
ditions existing in the different localities.
In some places. the property holders are
able TO bear the road tax. and the cir
cumstances surrounding them are such
as to make it to their interest to do
away with the compulsory system. In
other localities. perhaps. the road tax
would amount to such a hardship as to
make it impracticable. The plan
Of employing short term convicts OH the
roads has proved economical and salts
factory in Il number of counties in this
and other States. and the system could
| be well extended. In several States.
even the long term cOnyicts have, with
satisfactory results. been employed in
Quarrying and crushing stone for macad-
amizing public roads, and the material
thus prepared has been sold to the vari-
Gus counties and municipalities at the,
actual cost of preparing it. thus reduc-
ing its cost one-half or two-thirds OF
course no amount of legislation will, of
itself radically change the existing con
ditions, but perhaps laws providing for
the working Of the public roads may be
enacted so as TO stimulate and direct
better work in this direction.
1t is coming to be generally recognized
that the use of wide tires on all wagons
and other draft vehicles will greatly aid
the keeping of the public roads in bet
ter condition. In number of States
laws have been enacted encouraging the
introduction and use of these wide tires,
and the results there are said to be
highly satisfactory. 1t is desirable that
legislation looking in this direction,
should be enacted II North Carolina,
AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Board of Agricul-
ture, transmitted herewith, gives, in de-
tail, the operations Of that department
for the last two years: and the attention
of the General Assembly is directed TO
the recommendations contained therein.
The department has done some very
valuable work since its last report to
the General Assembly. But it is be-
lieved that its efficiency would be greatly
increased. if the Farmers Institute