The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-03-09

lie Road ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
er McEachern Talks Out in Meet
ing'-Status Of the work-Plans For
the Futur-Many Other Matters of
Importance Considered.
The longest session OF the board OF
lcounty commissioners held in many a
day was that yesterday from $50 TO
s:15 o'clock, the occasion being the reg
ular March meeting Of the board. By
odds the most important business con-
lsidered vas that pertaining TO h pub
lie road improvements. Commissioners
Ipresent were Colonel Roger Moore
I(chairman). Mr.. D. McEachern, Mr.. w.
IF. Alexander and Mr.. Gabriel Holmes.
One of the most interesting features
OF the meeting was a discussion Of the
progress being made in the public road
improvements and was elected by the
report OF Captain John Barry, super
intendent of public roads .~purporting
to give a statement of the work done
by the public road force
The report was sharply criticised on
account of its lack Of Information and
the small amount OF work performed
NoIIIIllSSlOIlCI -lOI-d1lt4h q TN
Iphatic in his complaints OF the pro-
lgress of the work, asserting hat time
land money was being wasted. He
STATED that at least 10 per cent. Of the
fund had been s~quandered and not q
foot of permanent road had been made:
THAT 20 per cent. OF SS,lSl.56 had been
iexpended, and three fourths of the
money had been spent without receiv-
ling full value.
Captain Barry stated that his time
was largely consumed in going over
the county looking up repairs to
bridges, building culverts n other
work which should be let out by con-
tract; hat he was not with the hands
I(mostly convicts) and had NJ n to
keep time or force them TO work in
lproper manner.
Commissioner Alexander said he un-
Iderstood when Captain Barry was
elected it would be his Tuty to stay
with and work the force. This was also
THE opinion of Commissioner Holmes,
who thought the superintendent time
was more valuable in the regular road
work han if spent in travelling through
the county looking up odd jobs OF
bridge work or pipe laying.
Captain Barry stated that much of
his time just now would be consumed
for the next week directing the work
of constructing the bridge yer Motifs
Icreek, between Wrightsville and Sum-
lmer Rest, but that he expects to COM
Iplete the bridge his week. 1t was the
sense of the board that after this job
is disposed OF Captain Barry shall
make it an especial point to look after
the work of the convicts OF the Cas-
tie Haynes road where the principal
Improvements are to be made for the
present. The opinion was expressed by
all the commissioners that this woul
be decidedly he best policy, even if it
became necessary to employ an assist
ant for Captain Barry to look after
some of the minor details of the gener-
lal work on various roads. 1t was the
Expressed opinion of the board that
the road supervisors should do much
Iof the work which has heretofore beer
Idone by Captain Barry.
Mr.. McEachern complained especial.
lily that despite the fact that the tenn
jpOrary quarters near the eight mile
post had been completed for Severa
weeks, yet up to yesterday they had
mot been occupied and no work Il
Ispeak of had been lone on the road
since the last meeting. Captain Barry
Explained that the convictS were trans
Iferred from the county home to tn,
Temporary quarters yesterday and raiC
lthey would be worked on full time fol
: the future. He said that the temper
AIRY camp mad not been equipped witt
stoves and the weather had been too
iOdd " ~ u ludI II the Ctil
victs there until now.
Colonel Moore announced that he hai
lordered the portable prison authorized
by the board last month, from the in
: ventor n manufacturer. Mr.. w. S
;, king, at Darlington, S. c., and expec
| lit to be shipped at an early date.
Colonel Moore also reported as t
} the progress being made in the nego
ltiationS between the commissioner
| and the streets and wharves committe
l and with the company operating tn,
lCastle Haynes phosphate mines TO
: Icrushed rock for road improvement, de
finite arrangements with neither o
whom have yet been perfected.
The board, at the suggestion of MI
: lMcEachern, requested the chairman L
/. write to Professor Holmes, state geol
) ogist, and request him to visit VIII
l Imington and inspect the road condi
2 ltions, making any suggestions as L
: THE best method of placing macadam
= letc; also sugges some expert maj
r iwho can be gotten to come to New
r Hanover county for a o of NOR
: land get the general work of road i'm
r Iprovement fully inaugurated.
: COMMUNICATION FROM ALDER
!. MAN MacRAE.
!. Colonel Roger Moore read a commu
= nication from Alderman Hugh Mac
l Rae, of the streets and wharyes com
Imittee, in which Mr.. MacRae state,
THAT if the county will pay 800 for tn
construction of a thoroughly substan
ltial bridge across Burnt Mill creek O
\ the o leading by the rock quarrie
=. now being worked by the city, tn
I street and wharves committee will oh
lligate themselves to expend an eQua
amount on improvements for the roal
/: Extending from the bridge TO the Belle
: vue cemetery gate, and if there aus a.
2 I~excess in the o IS of the bridge abov
: the 500, an amount equal thereto viii
7 be expended by the city on the road il
question The commissioners accepte,
) 1.-THE proposition.
l COMPLAINT AGAINST UNITED
3 CHARITIES.
e Goor<o noll A-- ~