The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-02-09
BY w. C. McMackin, Supt of Wake
County Roads.

To the Editor: Up TO 1889 there were
only eight men in Wake county in favor
of good roads by taxation, one of whom
was DR.. Richard Lewis who had the
moral courage to frame an act for the
betterment lof the roads in Raleigh town
ship; after much argument and OPPOSE
ton this act became a law. The opposi-
tion was so strong among the x-payers
the law would not have been put into
effect by the magistrates of the county
TO whom il was referredJ but for the
strenuous efforts of K. G. Dunn and a few
others. Today every man, woman and
child in the county, regardless of color,
are enthusiastic for good roads
At this time we had no roads, merely
zig-zag bitches, into which all the water
on the adjacent farms was emptied.
Within one mile of our city | have known
good horses unable 20 pull buggy and
one man, and I have seen four mules
craving 4 wagon with one bale of cot ton,
which was a good load. / have known
gentlemen of large means come TO our
city wishing to invest their capital in cur
farming lands and go home disguised,
because we had no roads TO get TO or
from the farms.
Ten years ago three-fourths OF the land
in the township was for sale, today there
is not an acre offered at a fair price. A
few days ago a farm three and a half
N lies out sold for $4,000, and the pur-
chaser said he would not have given
$500 FOR it but for the improved road
passing it.
We have had our first road law amend
ed only by extending the road limits to
FIVE miles from city limits or three miles
farther oct than the first limit, AMI some
OF our roads are seven and a half miles
III length, and we now have 119 miles
within our road district. regardless Of
the cross sections. Nineteen miles of
this Is macaddm and twenty is
graded and grayeled. and we think the
gravel roads are superior to the ma
Cadam in points of cheapness and repairs
and less damaging TO horses. Our gravel
roads can be built for about one tenth
the cost of macadam, and after being re-
paired twice it is nothing more nor less
than a fine metal roadbed On all our
reads we have gravel pits and banks OF
q fine quality,
Cur old road laws have been an evil
Inheritance, and which we bllndly hold
fast to. BY that system less than one
,enth Of the population OF the State has
been working roads for the use OF the
whole people and ii is time for them TO
shift a portion Of this burden upon the
shoulders Of the whole people, where il
properly belongs. This they can do by
taxation and the use OF convict labor. The
idle Jail birds and conNicts should not be
supported by the labor Of honest men.
Every convict in the penitentiary should
be used TO build roads or prepare road
material and stop their competition with
honest labor and an annual loss OF $780,
. COO farming. We have plenty of money
available and an abundance OF material
10 build good roads in every section in
the State. II all the convicts, oilers and
traIul,s are used fer that purpose. To
build good roads We must reduce our
l&ns TO simplicity and economy. IL Is
the simplest problem. but how we do
complici4te it, by employing TOO much
scientific knowledge and theory.
Let us fix our plans for building roads
SO as TO preserve uniformity in their con-
struction and show pleasing results for
the expenditure. Good roads bring pros
perity. for in the road districts the
farmers arc making money and improy-
ing their farms
The political issues in AL parties here
after will be good roads.
Raleigh, Y. c., Feb. 4.