The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-01-17
WILL GET MILEAGE
Representative Bowman Sus
tanned by Committee on
Salaries and Fees

The House Committee on Salaries and
Fees yesterday afternoon decided to re-
port favorably the mileage claim of Rep
resentative j. G.. Bowman, the Republi-
can member from Mitchell, who proved
CAT miles from Bakersville here.
There was one dissenting voice when
the vote was taken in the committee.
Mr.. Bowman came to Raleigh by the
new railroad from near Bakersville to
Johnson City, and thence around by way
of Morristown, Tennessee, to Marion.
This he did because the country road
from Baskerville to Marion, SO miles,
was practically impossible and has been,
as no claimed, generally abandoned in
the winter for public travel.
The way Mr.. Bowman came added
about 375 miles to the distance.
Representative Newland appeared be-
fore the committee and stated that from
his knowledge of going to court at
Bakersvlle, the road between that place
and Marion was practically impossible
in winter. In summer it was possible
to get along with great care. 1t was
sometimes even necessary to get out and
walk and hold the vehicle to keep it
from turning over. The last time he
went that way, it took him two days to
make the Journey, and he had determ-
incd, since the railroad was built near
Bakersville, to go hereafter by the new
way around by Johnson City and Nor
ristown, Tenn.
Legally, he said the road between
Marion and Bakersyille was a public
highway, but in good morals and prac-
tically it was not. OF course, he sup
posed MIR. Bowman could have gone that
way, but he could have made only four
OF five miles a day. The entire distance
is Sc miles a day. 1t would be quite safe
to say that the new railroad was now
the usual way of travel. The mail was
frequently interrupted along the Bakers
yille-M Marion road
Representative Davidson testified that
he knew the road in question between
Marion and Bakersvlle about two years
ago, and that it was the worst he had
ever travelled over.
Asked how he would go to Bakersville,
Mr.. Davidson said he thought he would
go to Greensboro, thence to Lynchburg,
Va, and around by way of Bristol. Asked
further how he would go from Bakers
willie to Marion, at this time of the
year, he said he would go around by
Tennessee, as Mr.. Bowman had done.
He would never attempt the wagon road
in winter.
Senator Conley was called upon to say
what he thought Of the road in question.
He said It was passable in good wealth
er. but practically impossible in bad
weather. Asked how he would come from
Bakersville to Raleigh at this time OF
the year, Mr.. Conley said he would come
the same way that Mr.. Bowman had
come.
Representative Morris, OF the commit
| tee. said that he once saw mule mire
! down on the Marion Bakersville road
| end also that he had seen a horse &c
down until it was necessary to hold UT
| his head to keep him from drowning
| Public travel, Mr.. Morris said, was fire.
Quently interrupted on this road.
Mr.. Britain, of Randolph, finally
moved that Mr.. Bowman be paid for the
| mileage he had proved. Mr.. Britain
| held that it was not the nearest public
road that must be Travelled, but the
| nearest public road usually Travelled by
| tho DeOp1o