The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1909-06-10
ABOUT ROADS.
Some Suggestions as to Building
Roads Should Keep on I'M
proving the Law.

To the Editor of The Robesonian
have seen several pieces in
the recent past on the road ques-
ton, etc. | have some views on
the subject.
To begin with, there has been
a great deal said, but not more
than should have been said. If
you will travel over Robeson
county you will find that there
has been more permanent work
done than gossip gives credit for.
For instance, most of our roads
across water courses have been
damned, which is permanent, and
means vast deal to the R. Ed.
routes and to the travelling pull
lie. We are inclined to find fault,
which is easier than performing
the task.
The things that | shall suggest
are only my views on the subject.
In the first place, with the limit
ed amount of capital that we
have for road building we should
use all economy possible. In
some instances, as | see it, we
have failed to do this; for in
stance, in grading a road, instead
of taking natures top soil and
hauling it for some distance to
fill in with, | would suggest a
better plan would be to take this
top earth that is necessary to
make a fnishion the clay after
the top has been removed, in
stead of transferring that top soil
to fill in with in making these
dams, to take, say, space four
teen feet broad in the middle of
the road and pile it out on either
side the depth of the soil or sand
and then remove the remainder
of the excavation to build these
dams with. AS soon as you get
the grade deep enough, transfer
your sand or top soil back on this
clay, instead of hauling this away
and then have to haul similar
dirt so far for that purpose. When
this top dirt is put back on this
fourteen-feet space, then finish
your grading to correspond with
your other grading. | presume
that we would not need sand on
a space broader than fourteen
feet. Then, another thing would
be economy, as l see it: When
we have raised these dams above
high water, grade off the hills
with a gradual grade and when
we get on the hill, where the road
bed is absolutely solid, grade and
drain that without removing ma.
lures top soil, down into the
clay, which makes it so much
more difficult to get permanent
road bed on clay or in Other
words makes too expensive; i
would take too long to get around
We think the R. F. D. route:
need recognition. A large par
of them have had but very little
We want to learn how to econo
mize in every possible way. Ge
a road law that will tend to tina
end, that can be executed econom
.. ieally. It's easier to maxi
, debts than it is to pay them. S.
let's move cautiously and ge
everything thoroughly systema
tised before the bond issue. Tht
:, present law, as | see it, is no
, just what we Want;it needs som
!. amendments;so let's keep on try
, ing to improve till we get tn
best law that wisdom and eXper
, icnce can frame. We have beel
trying different laws and ye
, there is room for improvement
+ In the first place, as see it W
y want four days for labor. If 20
y will stop and see who is benefit
ed by good roads and find oU
:, = who is bearing the burdens thi
> will answer the above question
j 1t would be democracy to plac
the revenue derived form corpol
. ations to be distributed per cap
! ia as to miles of roads in the sel
- - eral townships, etc. All of whic
h is easily explained.