The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-03-27
GOOD ROADS URGED
No ackward Step Should
be Taken in North
Carolina.


more to the upbuilding and material
prosperity of our Southland today than
anything else within our means, ! would
rnhesitatingly say good roads"
The State of Pennsylvania has just
completed five hundred miles of road at
a cost of six thousand dollars per mile,
and the State of New York has just
voted an appropriation of one and one
half million dollars for road building in
that State.
OF course We cannot hope, in our pres
ent condition, to even approximate road
building on so gigantic a scale, but We
can at least profit by the judgment and
experience of these weather. States, and
do what we may.
In those States the conditions are such
that every farmer has market near his
farm, and of course there is not the same
necessity for good reads as in our sec
ton, where many of our farmers are COM
PEELED to travel long distances TO reach
a market.
Now il sound judgment justifies the ex-
peuditure of what seems to us such enor-
r,ous sums i'll those States, our people
here, and especially our farmers, ought
TO take courage. and resolve that at least
they will take no backward step in what
has already been undertaken on this line.
] most earnestly appeal to cur own
home people to nothing which would
tend to retard the progress OF work al
ready undertaken, but to encourage the
same in every way possible. If mistakes
have been made point them out in order
that the proper remedy may be applied
If the present law is defective and Oh
jectionable in any of its feature, go be-
fore the next Legislature and have the
same amended, but be sure that you do
nothing which will retard the work al
ready undertaken, but rather demand
such changes as will strengthen and en-
large the scope of the same in its practi-
cal operations and results. / am aware
that there are serious defects in our
present read law and that blunders have
been committed in the enforce ment OF
the same, but these will not justify the
people ill destroying the whole fabric.
to their own detrinlent.
There is no investment which yields
better returns both for our towns and
rural districts than money expended upon
the proper construction of roads.
In discussing good roads l use that
term in its broadcast and most liberal
sense for the reason that money expend-
ed on roads indifferently or improperly
constructed is well-nigh wasted.
In the proper construction of roads for
general purposes there are certain re-
quirements which must not be over
looked or disregarded. AS a general
proposition all roads should be as nearly
straight as is consistent with economy
OF construction and of use after constiuc
ton.
For all light vehicles, ease, comfort
and rapidty OF travel arc OF first import
ance.
For heavy traffic, ali of the above
and also such conditions as will enable
the team TO carry the heaviest load witt
the greatest ease. A smooth, solid roaC
bed is essential in all cases, but no NOR.
SO than the requirement of an easy grade
which should under no circumstances b,
overlooked, except where it is absolutel L.
Impractical to secure it. It il wei
known fact that horse in descending
a steep hill walks much slower thar
when ascending or on level. So tina
with a light vehicle If the grade is sucl
az to force the team to walk it is equiv
alent to increasing the distance four
fold, in the loss OF time.
For heavy traffic the question of grade
this proposition clear we will suppos
that farmer lives ten miles from marke
and that he has paid his road tax ant
been fortunate enough to have roat
constructed by his home. the create
portion of which is of such characte
that he can haul six bales OF cotton
with a given team, but at one or NOR
points between his home and marke
hot DIN
Oh account of cost and over which tn
same team cannot carry more than fou
BALES OF cotton, it is evident that n
would have to make the trip from HON,
with only four bales, thereby loosing on,
dollar, the cost for hauling the othe
two.
Ii he should have a. return load of fer
tilizers OF other heavy material Their
would be loss amounting to two dollar
for the trip.
There would be q corresponding loss Of
all heavy traffic, such as farm products
wood and lumber. Now il one will TAX
the trouble to figure On the number c
teams that pass over any OF our publ
roads within ten miles of Raleigh an
calculate the money loss and loss {
energy to the teams he will find that i
a very short time it will amount to niue
more than the first cost of putting tn
road in proper condition and thereb
protecting the people against this erfor'
ed loss for all time. Having paid thei
taxes to secure good roads" l don
think it fair to give them anything les.
This is progressive age and it Nigh
not be a misnomer to call it 'con
merciar' age as well-people natural
enquire what they may reasonably e.
pact in return for any investment.
In matters of taxation we are all II
c;ined to look only upon one side an
to conclude that all taxes are necessar
evils and therefore burdens from whic
we do not expect any material or tang
BILE returns. While this may be true t
a certain extent as to general taxatio
for the support of government, it is i
no sense true as to specific tax sue
as is generally levied for the purpose
constructing public highways. Here tn
benefits are immediate, lasting and pc
manent
In any community where a system {
good road has been provided the socis
benefits alone outweigh the cost. TIL