The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1910-07-07
The Good Roads Campaign.
Wilmington Star.

The largely attended meeting OF the
North Carolina Good Roads Associa-
ton at WrightsviIle Beach, indicates
the strength OF the sentiment in
North Carolina for modern high
ways. The delegates came from va
rious counties and their presence sig
mites that back of their coming is a
potent and moving force on a line OF
progress that is leading to develop
ment OF prime Importance to the
State.
Good roads scientists, good roads
experts, good roadsevangelists, good
roads enthusiasts and good roads ad
vocates took part in the convention,
and probably no meeting in behalf of
better highways has ever returned to
their homes men more confirmed in
the vital question OF roadways laid
out, constructed and maintained on
a scientific and economic basis.
The utility of good roads no longer
requires argument but the campaign
along that line will increase the en-
thusiasm and bring the movement up
to the practical point where the va
rious counties will begin work instead
OF thinking over tue matter. The
good roads convention will emphasize
the economy ofhighway construction,
and educate the people up to the va
rious methods best adapted to the
different communities and sections.
The addresses of DR.. Joseph Hyde
Pratt, of the North Carolina Geologic
and Economic Survey, and of other
strong speakers, will prove a great
stimulus to the good cause. The
State is indeed very fortunatein hav-
ing such an able and strong good
roads propaganda as the eminent
heads of State Department that is
of inconceivable value and impor-
lance in magnifying and developing
the great resources Of the State.
We aim to speak only in a general
way here, for the proceedings OF the
convention carried in the Stars news
columns give the interesting details
of the proceedings and discussions.
However, we could not let the oppor-
tunity pass to recognize the veritable
Importance and significance OF the
convention and speak OF it as ire
mendous force in a movement which
is almost equal in significance to the
impetus in providing the State with
railroads.
The Star is glad that the State Leg
islature at it's last session recognized
the good roads movement, although
it did not act in accordance with a
proper conception of the magnitude
of the question. Nevertheless, an ap-
preparation of $1,000 was made to
further the cause and it is by that
means that DR.. Pratt is able to visit
the various portions of the State and
educate, instruct and enthuse the
people upon this topic One OF the
State Senators who was specially
active in pushing that appropriation
through the General Assembly at
tended the convention and he was a
most interested listener and partici-
pated in it's proceedings.
We refer to the Hon. 0. L. Clark, of
Bladen, who with Senator Whitehead
kluttz, of Rowan, made a strong
fight, almost hopeless at times, in be-
half of the Kluttz bill. They made a
hard fight for $4,000, but after
many tie votes compromise for
$4,000 was secured.
The immense good that small ap-
preparation has done has demon
strated that the large appropriation
asked would have been magnificent
in results. Let the Legislature dots
duty at the next session and prove
that the State is not niggardly in a
movement of tremendous conse-
quence to the State as a factor in its
| DEVELOPMENT and progress.