The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-02-10
IRIS A LIVELY FIGHT
County Officers Oppose Neuse
Cotton Mill Road.
The Bill 10 Require Building Road From Falls
Of Neuse TO Neuse Station Argued For
and Against.

YeSte rday afternoon at the adjourn
ment of the Legislature, the Wake county
delegation gave hearing to the advo-
Gates and oononents of the bill recently
introduced tc require the Board of County
Commissioners to build roads from any
factory located within five miles of any
railroad station by the nearest and most
convenient route. MIR. Pearson had to
leave the committee before the hearing
had been completed in order to go home.
The other members have had no confer
ence vet but will do so at an early date
and decide whether they will oppose or
support the bill.
The bill doubtless originated by the
owners of the Neuse River Cotton mill
and the people in that part of the county
who wish better roads.
Messrs p. H. Battle. j.. n. Holding, c.
G. Latta. Prof. w. G. Riddick advocated
the passage of the bill. 81
The statement was made that all the
county commissioners and all the county
officers were opposed to the bill. These
gentlemen spoke against it. Messrs.
Armistead Jones, W. B. Snow, w G.
Brewer Julius Lewis, Sheriff Page and
Capt Williamson. Mr.sW. G. Allen. Sup
erintendent County Home, was called upon
and made a statement -
Dr. Thompson, Dr. Penny and large
number OF citizens from that section OF
the county were present and advocated
the passage of the bill They said it was
desired bv the people of that section, of
the countv Mr.. W. C. Brewer said that
it was not desired by all the people in
that section of the county.
ARGUMENTS FOR THE BILL.
Those advocating The bill urged: 1.
That the rocd district in that section
extended a shorter distance from Raleigh
than the road district in any other sec
ton; 9 That the Investment in the new
mill. etc. would add largely to the
taxable l0rooerta andli4in addition TO
school and State taxes would pay be-
tween sA00 and $500 to the county an
nually; 3. That other counties encouraged
mill enterprises in this way and that this
was the secret of the great enterprise
and growth of the industry iii Alamance
and Mecklenburg and other countless i.
That the distance be made ten miles, in
stead OF five as first suggested, in. order
10 encourage capital to locate other mills
at other water powers in the county; 5.
That the mill men agree to board the
convicts and guards and furnish right Of
way free of expense TO the county if the
Beard of County Commissioners will furn-
ish the labor.
ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE BILL.
The County Commissioners and their
representatives opposed the bill on these
grounds: /. That a great deal of money
$4,000 had already been expended in
putting bridge over Neuse at that point,
and some work in addition done upon the
roads near the bridge and around Wake
Forest; 2. That it would be an injustice
10 other sections of the county, some Of
which needed to be done very badly; g.
That the county did not have the teams
tools or dump wagons necessary to con-
struct the road without using those whcih
had been purchased by the taxes levied
in Raleigh township for the benefit of the
road district and that they had no right
10 use the property belonging to the road
district or to touch that fund for work
outside of the road district. Sheriff Page
urged that it would be bad thing politi-
oallv in that it was class legislation. the
road being built primarily for private
purpose for private company