The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-08-09

waterway Tor ships from Norfolk 70
Charleston. =
Another great function connected
VIII water was that of power. There
Is now under consideration bv the
government conservation commission
a plan for making Tar River bio
by giving it 8 feet of water from
Washington to Greenville and Tarboro
by the construction of two dams or
locks BESIDES giving transportation.
these dams would make possible the
development of 100000 horse power
along this river which would provide
electric lights and. power for all the
towns and run a great unmber of new
manufacturing enterprises. This great
subject of transportation touches the
life of the world today at every point
and by all branches of this subject of
transportation no factor enters more
largely than that Of public roads.
Mr.. Small then showed how the
work was progressing in other sec
lions, and gave illustrations of the
immediate material results.
Concluding. he referred to the won
derful improvement in education. and
said that in his congressional district
this year, it was notable that there
were Is applicants for public docu-
ments relating to education where
there was one five years ago. But the
iSSoiu L III S1cdl dUCdl1OIId@ dC-
complishment, is that on this problem,
our people got together and by CO.
operative taxation effort brought these
things to pass. The same WOnder-
full advance will be seen in the good
roads movement, if our people will
once more adopt a system Of
tive effort, and good roads will come
before you know it.
Speaking of the matter of special
+ - - I~-2 ~~.@ e. -~~- NJ
Small said these things could easily
be adjusted in each county, but in his
opinion the most feasible bond ssue
scheme, was that Of the township.
Leaving to each township in it's own
way and own time, the question Of
township bond issue for good roads,
rather than a county bond issue. Mr.
Small concluded his admirable ad-
dress by urging the cultivation Of the
basis cause of all public progress. the
spirit Of cooperative action and the
large audience gave him rounds of ap-
plauSe.
An Expert on Good Roads.
The next speaker was Lester e.
Boykin, engineer of the United States
Department of Agriculture.
Mr.. Boykin began by saying that the
United States, while the greatest ma
ton on earth. was one of the least in
good road Improvement. Of more
thar two and half million miles OF
public road, the United States had but
10000 miles of improved road. Con-
seouently while the average rate Of
transportation charges Of Europe was
u cents per ton, the rate IN the
United states was "a cents per ton.
Good roads tended to help educa-
ton, as shown by results in Mecklen-
burg, Guilford, Durham, Wake and
other counties, where the first great
educational development followed the
improved roads built then. He gave
statistics showing that insanity and
bad roads were closely connected.
Farm boys from bad road sections
left the farms for the towns, while
statistics give that in good road sec
tons the trend to the cities from the
farms was much less. Good roads
mean better ~postoffice facilities, ana
the rural mail route carriers were
| Uncle Sans great missionaries.
He showed where good roads were
| soon paid for by the increased value OF
! real estate, and the attractive advant-
| ages which the better road gave the
community, the county, on the state.
| over the section content with bad
roads.
What Kind Of Roads.
AS to the kind Of roads to build, he
said the type varied with the country
| of the community, and 50 did the cost
per mile. In Eastern North Carolina,
he declared that the sand clay road
was the practical one. The condl-
tons Of material and labor in this
section were ideal for q cheap and
| effective sand clay road. These roads
had been built for $2o0 per mile. and
| had cost as high as $1,000 per mile,
according to distance Of hauling and
obtaining material.
He gave a most valuable description
Of the manner and method or nullo-
ing q sand clay ROAD promising MS
| instructive al entertaining sugges-
tons with tie statement that the
very first question OF all good roao
butIding. was drainage
Bonds or Special Tax.
In conclusion, Mr.. Boykin. speak1n
of providing funds for building roads,
advised the adoption Of a method
that would defer payment. so as to
catch those, who eithe by GROWING
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