The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1909-06-07
EDITORIAL COMMENT.
THE ONE. PARAMOUNT
NEED OF THE HOUR"


Lexington Dispatch, which is do
ing all it can to secure good
roads for Davidson county, ex-
Gov. Robert B. Glenn sets forth
some truths that it would be we'll
for the people of Robson coun-
ty, which needs to build perma-
nent roads, to read and ponder:
To the Editor of The Dispatch:
Your letter requesting me to
write you an article in regard to
what | thought good roads mean
in the upbuilding of counties and
States has been received. To
show what I think of the
worth Of good roads, | need but
quote from past utterances of
mine on this subject. On Janu-
ary II, 1905, in my inaugural ad-
dres before the General Assem-
bly,, I used this language: "Our
General Assembly should encour-
age every effort that is being
made to improve our defective
~c-.d system and provide all need
ed laws to aid in the construction
of good roads. Every county OF
township that desires il, should
be given a chance to improve
their highways by bond issue, OF
other mode Of taxation, for it has
been truly said that next to ILL
teracy, mud levies the highest
tax on a State or county. Good
roads to our markets enhance the
value of our lands. and farm pro-
ducts, and the taxes paid for the
construction of good roads is
more than restored to the citizens
by the increased facilities ir
hauling heavy loads, time saveo
in going and coming, and by the
protection Of our live stock and
vehicles from the wear ano
wreck of mud and stone" 5" Ir
my message to the Legislature Of
1907, | again reiterated the neeC
and necessity of having gooe
highways in every county, anC
urged that greater interest bt
taken in this matter so vital to {
county 'swealth and development
Again in my last message to thu
Legislature in January, 1909,
repeated all that | had said il
my two former addresses, an,
added this advice: Il have tax
en- an active interest in ever.
measure looking to the improve
ment of our roads, making man.
speeches in the interest of bon'
issues for this purpose, and doin!
what l could to bring the mind
Of the people to a healthy sent
ment along this line. The pee
pie are now ready for tn
work, and | commend to thi
Legislature, and the in-comin
Governor as the one paramount
need of the hour, Good Roads, an
if the next administration shoul
accomplish not h in g bu
this one result of better high
ways, it would forever deserv
the thanks of a grateful an
rapidly enriched people" :"
GOOD ROADs-PROGREss; MUD
sTAGNATION.
| might stop here, and sa
nothing more, but since my ira,
els through this State, an
throughout the South land, / ca
now say positively that without
single, solitary exception, thos
counties that have a good systel
of roads are very rapidly impro1
ing in wealth, in the quality {
their farms, and in the populatio
of their cities and towns; Will
those that still adhere to the ol
mud highways, are many yeal
behind the others in every kin
of advancement. This statemer
. alone, which is absolutely yer
fed by observation, ought to con
pei every county to becon
progressive along this line, ar
see to it that it is not lie
behind in this race of develo
ment. Look at Mecklenburs
Durham, Guilford, Wake, al
Forsyth counties, and compa
them today with what they we
under the old system, and the
also compare these counties tn
refuse to build good highway
and no sane man can hesitate
acknowledge what has been t
source of their rapid improy
ment. Lands increase in Walt
where once situated on m
pixies they were only worth
or Sc dollars an acre, where
now that mud has been conve
ed into macadam roads, tn
cannot be bought for less tn
500 to $40 an acre, and son
times even higher. Farmt
with good roads can take ;
vantage of fuctuating crops
going speedily to market bef'
prices fall, while under the
system they had to wait for
roads to dry out, or be likely
stick in the mud, and before G
1 ting to market, the bottom
i dropped out of prices. Farm
! also can haul more than tn
saz times the number of bales
oo4+2r xoo,,~l. &c 4ohoaoo