The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1905-01-19
Mud Roads or Permanent Roads the
Issue,

EpIToI: GOLD LEAF:-Your last issue
contains the notice" referred to in a
former issue. This notice" recites that
application will be made to the Legisla-
ture now in session for authority to vote
on the question of the issuing OF bonds
for the munifcient sun OF $50. 900 to i'm
prove the roads in Vance county. Moth
ing is said about Permanent Improve
ment of the roads-fOr it's well known
that $4,000 could do little else. il i'm
practically distributed on the now exist
ing public roads of the county. than 10
throw mp the mud in the middle OF the
road, thus making it Impossible next
winter to use the roads at all
The town of Henderson at which this
scheme to expend only 500 on coun-
ty roads originated, has sufficiently tried
mud roads and the money that has been
expended on these dirt roads would have
constructed a fairly good McAdam road
had it been properly expended.
Granville county spent $4,000 last
year on temporary or mud roads ana
Warren county has expended good sum
on her mud roads. Behold the situation.
Henderson town, Granville and Warren
counties are good enough object lessons.
Where can the man be found who will
admit that thoroughfare road through
Henderson which cannot be dignitied
with the title of street or that the
mud roads OF Granville or Warren are
such that the farmers of Vance county
would vote to be taxed to build the like
Of it?
! cannot be personal il | would as do
not know who are responsible for the ex-
listing quagmires through which no wag-
ON load not even Of feathers can be drawn.
What is wanted is a good road SO far
as it can be bIilt as permanently; COM
plete it as you go If but for a short dis
lance, for with such an object lesson the
opposition to Permanent Roads now
would be the most ardent advocates of
their future extension.
II Granville county had treated her
county roads as has Oxford treated her
main street through the town! In other
words OxfOrd's street is McAdamiZed and
defies the evil effects of wet weather and
clay, whereas the approaches to Oxford
are nearly as bad as the sO-caied main
street OF Henderson. | heard merchant
of Henderson say last week that he had
ordered his teamsters not to attempt to
haul even partial loads through the town
as the profit on his merchandise would
not pay for the deterioration of his live
stock
The Legislature holds only Il sixty
days session when it will adjourn to meet
two years hence. So that if we vote to
expend $40, 900 on Mud Roads or Road
Improvement or whatever name we
choose to call it, we will have tOpuli our
animals to death for two more winters
over a worse road than is now in use,
before we can get any more money to
furnish gravel or sprawls for permanent
roads.
Having before us the present plight OF
Henderson roads, Granville and Warren
county roads as by comparison with the
fine permanent roads OF Guilford. Rock
ingham. Durham. etc. it's left for the
voters OF Vance county to decide to put
their county in such an unvenuiabie po-
sitiOn or not. Why, the market town
would profit greatly if the farmers had
good drive to market with whatever OF
surplus they had for sale whetherit con
sisted OF wood; beef, eggs chickens. but
Ter. etc, but with such roads to Hender-
son and within the corporate limits of
Henderson who will travel over such
roads unless obliged to do SO by the in
eXOrable doom OF fate?
If Henderson is satisfied with it's thor
Oughfare please let them unite with the
country people to satisfy them. Perma
nent Roads will alone se.'ve the purpose
of the farmers Of the county Leave it to
pOsterity to decide as to which policy
was the wisest.