The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1904-08-18
GOOD ROADS MOVEMENT.
Wiiliamsboro Township Takes Hold
of the Matter in Earnest-Meeting
Held Saturday Looking to this End
A Good Attendance and a Good
Dinner-The Sneeches Etc

/
Dinner-The Speeches, Etc.
The pic mic and speaking at Will
liamsborO Saturday attracted a
good crowd The object OF the meet
ing as previously announced was to
discuss good roads, education and
agriculture.
Ii any section needs good roads
worse than they do out that way We
do not know where it is. And the
people OF WILLIAMSBURG township APP
pear to be thoroughly alive to the
Importance, and necessity, of some
thing being done along this line.
Mr.. Joel Bullock was the leading
spirit in Saturdays meeting, and he
did not lack for cooperation on the
part of the good people of that sec
ton. The arrangements had been
we'll planned and a splendid dinner
was provided.
Capt John H. Sharp was master
OF ceremonies and the speakers of the
day were Mr.. S. l.. Stevens, of the
Agricultural and Mechanical College.
Prof John Graham, of Warrenton,
and Mr.. J. c. kittrell, County Super
intendent of Schools. After calling
the meeting to order Capt. Sharp ex-
planned the object and spoke briefly
on the Importance OF the questions
to be considered, that of good roads
especially. He was gratified at the
movement being made and congrat-
ulated the audience upon the treat in
store for them naming the speakers
| present.
Mr.. Stevens was the first speaker.
He announced his subject as Educa-
Generalization as applied especially
to the farmer. He told many whole
| some truths and insisted that the
| farmer needs to be educated no less
than the professional man-nOt in
Latin and Greek, philosophy, the
sciences and higher mathematics,
but chemistry, animal and plant life,
their diseases and prevention, the
study Of soils and the application of
fertilizers. He spoke of the produc-
tive power of education and gave IL
Illustrations to prove the correctness
OF his position. Mr. Stevens addres
was a practical, thoughtful discus
sion of the subject and was listened
to with interested attention.
Prof. Graham spoke next He also
talked on education-from different
standpoint. And there is not a man
in North Carolina better qualified to
speak inteligently and advisedly on
this subject. His long and successful
experience as an educator, his fine
attachments as Il scholar and his
thorough Identification with educa-
tional matters peculiarly fit him for
delivering a message OF this kind
worthy the attention and thoughtful
consideration of any audience. Prof.
Graham spoke of the past and pres
ent methods of teaching, gave some
good advice about the selection and
treatment of teachers, and urged pa
rents and patrons of schools to CO.
| operate with the teacers, take an in
terest in their work and do all in
their power to make their schools as
effective and useful as possible. He
paid tribute to the old Blue Back
spelling book and declared the edu-
cation of that man founded upon the
work OF Noah Webster had not been
improved upon by all the modern
methods and new tangled ideas in
books and teaching.
At the conclusion of Prof Ora
hams address Capt. Sharp stated
that Mr.. Kittrell was expected to
speak on good roads, but for some
reason he had failed to show up. The
suppOsltlOn was that owing to the
bad roads from Henderson to Will
liamsbOrO, he had broke down on
the way
Dinner was then announced. A
long table had been erected for the
occasion and this was laden with an
abundance OF good things to eat
fried chicken, country ham, barbe-
cue, corn bread, biscuit, light bread,
corn pudding, corn on the cob, sliced
tomatoes, cakes, pies, pickles, etc.
Everything was we'll cooked and
there was ample for the large crowd
present.
About the time dinner was over
Mr.. kittrell and Mr. Henry Powell
arrived. Sure enough they had broke
down on the way and after consider
able delay succeeded in getting an
other buggy and finishing the Jour
ney. Their hunger was appeased and
Capt. Sharp announced that Mr. Kit
trell would speak or good roads
after which there would be a match
game of base ball.
Mr. kittrell addressed himself to
the subject assigned by telling of the
difficulties he had in getting from
Henderson to Williamsboro-an OBJ
lect lesson in itself and the strongest
sort OF an argument in favor of good
roads. He referred to statistics
showing the taxable valuation of
property in WILLIAMSBURG township
and declared that the mud tax is the
heaviest tax the farmer has to pay.
He pays it in loss of time, worn out
teams, broken down vehicles, in
health, comfort, satisfaction, and a
terrible strain upon his religion.
MIR. kittrell was III favor building
good roads-going about it in the
proper way and doing the work by
taxatiOn-not by townships but bv
the county 1t is a business PROPOSE
ton and must be taken hold of and
carried forward in a business like
manner. AS business proposition
good roads will pay big returns for
the money invested He went some.
what into details and if argument
was needed to emphasize the value
and Importance of good roads he did
it in way to please and enthuse his
hearers.
A committee of which Capt. SHARP
Is chairman was appointed to form
a cldb to take action in the matter
OF securing good roads-memorial
izing the Legislature for special ell
actment or doing whatever is best tt
attain the object sought. Joel Bull
lock, Henry T. Shanks, n. d. BOYD
J: H. Rice, j. L. Kelly and Capt
Sharp constitute said committee.