The Monroe journal. [volume] (Monroe, N.C.) 189?-1965, 1910-09-06
Charlotte = Wilmington Highway.
Editorial Correspondents.

been here today and observed th'
work and ardor Of the delegates as
sembled from the ten counties from
Mecklenburg to New Hanover for The
purpose of deyising ways and mean:
for opening a continuous highway
between our chief sea-city, Whining
ton, and our Piedmont metropolis
Charlotte, you could not have doubt
ed that such a roadway would bt
travel strewn before many months
Beginning with Mecklenburg's mes
sage-"We will soon have smacadam
road to the Union county line'-ev,
cry county reported either work near
IL accomplished or enthusiastically
begun. Not that this work has been
done with cross-State highway in
view, but as merely a part of each
county's own system Of improvement,
The Charlotte Wilmington highway
will serve to accentuate good roads
enthusiasm in all the counties, and
to hasten actual work; its plan is to
select the best routes already avail
able through the several counties, to
link them together, and put up sign
boards, induce the different counties
and townships to put their sections
in good condition, and eventually Sc
cure State convicts and other outside
help to do lasting work on the road.
1t will thus be seen that the plan is
really one to get better roads in each
county, as the line of highway will
Just about bisect each county, and
each county will own and use its
part locally just the same as if there
were no general highway. The plan
is wholly feasible and will undoubt-
edly be put through. The travel on
such road would be immense and
always on the increase, not only be-
cause of the location, but because the
road will soon be an ocean-to-moun-
tain highway, since the road from
Charlotte to Asheville now lacks only
few miles Of completion.
g g p g
When Col. H. G. Dockery, the faith
er Of the movement, was called to the
chair today as temporary chairman,
with Mr.. r. +. Beasley and Mr.. J. G..
Boylin as secretaries, the delegates
got right down to business, the chair
man shutting of all oratory by an
nouncing that there would be no time
to hear discourses on Roman high
ways nor European engineering At
once a committee was appointed to
90 out and discuss ways and means
and report on permanent organlza-
ton. Mr.. J. NJ. Farley was the men,
Der on this committee from Union.
(Mr. Farley, Editor Higgins and the
writer were those present from Unicn
county. DR.. Joseph Hyde Pratt,
State geologist and president of the
State Good Roads Association, made
a very interesting speech, pointing
out the necessity for the services Of
engineers on all road building under
takings, and advocating the use Of
State convicts on the public roads.
The convention subsequently adopt
ed a resolution declaring for such
use Of convicts.
% - @
At the opening of the afternoon
session the committee on ways and
means submitted its report, which
was adopted without dissenting voice
The gist of this report is as follows
The organization to be made perma.
nent under the name The Charlotte.
Wilmington Highway Association
The officers to be president, vice
president, secretary and treasurer
The association to have an executive
committee consisting Of one member
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