The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1910-04-14

Due To the Management In Dealing
With Roads-Persons Forced TO
Pay Road Tax and Work Roads,
Too, il They Are Kept PassabIe-

To the Editor:-We have Just
emerged from a season OF the worst
roads in Wake that It has been my
misfortune 10 know in some years.
| This condition has been due, in part,
TO excessive rains and increased traf-
| fc, but largely TO the method. or
lack of method and management, in
dealing with the roads. In this the
law may also be At fault
1t is not my intention TO criticise
adversely any individual, but in a
general way 10 point out some de-
fects and to offer. If l may, some
| helpful suggestions. And what ]
shall say is in no sense applicable
to the building and maintenance OF
gravel and macadam roads in which
| have had no experience and little
observation; but | wish to consider
only the crossroads and neighbor-
hood roads-which lie near the
homes and hearts Of a large major
| ity Of the rural citizens Of our coun-
| ty. Certainly these roads are en-
titled to more and better considera-
ton than they received.
The statement has been made and,
think, generally accepted, that
there are twenty-five hundred miles
Of roads within the county. Per-
haps not twenty-five miles of this
is good macadam roads that will
stand traffic for five years. A hun
6rn6 m
perhaps, has received more, or less,
attention in grading and graveling
So there must be at least twenty
three hundred of the twenty-five
hundred miles badly neglected, or
that has received no expert atten-
ton, Notwithstanding the polls and
property along this long neglected
mileage pay taxes equal with the
more favored sections.
Of course, it is understood that
for many years to come there must
be favored sections, and these sec
tons must be the approaches to the
county-seat and to the leading direct
thoroughfares. Rome was not built
in day." but much can be done to
lessen the toll paid by citizens of the
deep rural districts, which is direct
ly chargeable to bad roads
But, it is averred, that the citizens
of these now neglected districts could
have better roads if they would take
more interests in them. Exactly,
And that is the point I am now ap-
n n oh g,
it is so. and the remedy
To prove that interest is lacking,
one has only to travel through the
rural districts and observe otherwise
beautiful farms marred by this I'M
reasonable neglect. A case in point:
A few days ago l was passing by the
home of friend who owns a nice
farm, and near the dwelling was a
little depression where the water col
lects. The little ditch, ordinarily
sufficient, had filled with trash and
ponded the water, and the passing
traffic had worn several bad holes.
Approaching the owner, who had
been watching me tug through the
mud, l asked as pleasantly as T
knew how: Friend, wry don't you
open the ditch and fill up these
holes?" To which he replied cts
the county's business" But" I.
ventured, Il would think you would
do it for the sake of your nice farm. -
DO nothing of the kind" he replied.
Il pay as much taxes and work the
road as much as anybody else" This
may be an extreme case, but it is GER
tain that much Of the same spirit per-
vades the rural districts.
Why does this state of mind ex-
list? For several reasons, perhaps.
The people get confused and irritat-
ed over the constant changes in the
law; they do not become familiar
with one before another is presented.
[ am not charging this to the fault
or any lawmakers, or advisory COM
mlttee; for we have all been at seat
IN this matter. But it is a fact that
since the abolition of the old sys-
TEN, IN an effort to evolve the best
possible plan, we have presented only
a Kaleidoscope panorama which |
every time it turns and turns
every time the Legislature meets. The
renected scenes are beautiful, but
composed only of few bits of brok-
en- glass differently arranged.
Here are some of the changes we
nave had: While paying taxes all
the Time we have during one interval
required the rural taxpayers be-
tween the ages of Il and As to work
the road a certain number of DAYS in
7ach year and paid them for it. Dur
interval we made a like re-
lulrement and paid different per
lem, with the option of working or
paying forfeit into the road fund
Jne interval we hired labor indis-
Now we are renuirin o ,
'ur able-bodied rural TAXPAYERS 70
YORK four days in each year and nav
mem nothing for it. This last is the
lardest and most unequal proposition
We nave had. It amounts to an an
luai poll-tax of $500 per year. al
owing sl.0O per day for labor. in
oo1tlon to the regular assessment of
OIL and property tax and in excese
that which is paid by citizens of
lcorporated towns-and all of this
'ltn no perceptible Improvement If
only each time a new turn of tho
OFTEN times, and it must ha 90