The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1911-02-07
ROADS
MEETING TODAY
An Organization for Durham
County Was Formed

An enthusiastic crowd OF good road
advocates met in the court room FRI
day for the purpose of hearing
the report Of a special committee on
organization, which was appointed at
a recent meeting, to form permanent
organization, and to hear an excellent
address by DIR. J. Hyde Pratt. state
geologist and the leading spirit in
good bodybuilding in North Carolina.
What the crowd lacked In numbers
was made up. with enthusiasm. and
an organization was formed which will
without doubt mean much to the good
road interests of the county. Doctor
Arch. Cheatham was elected preBi-
dent OF the association; Mr. P. c..
Graham, secretary and treasurer. A
vice-president was elected from each
township as follows:
From Mangum township, w. NJ.
Bacon; Lebanon, r. O. Russell; Dur
ham. G. w. Warts; Oak Grove, G. G.
Staliings; Cedar Fork. Christopher
Barbee: Patterson. G. w. Upchurch.
The board of directors OF the assoc
citation is to consist OF the officers and
Messrs. w. ]. Griswold and w. ID.
Turrentine. The principal event OF
the meeting was the enthusiastic ad-
dress by DR.. J. Hyde Pratt.
when an organization was pro-
posed here several months ago the
point was made that there was moth
ing that such an organization could
do, In that the county had already
build roads and was In the forefront
Of progress along this line" said DR..
Pratt.
But desire TO present some things
that such an organization as You have
formed here today can do. The one
thing that your organization can 10
that desire TO emphasize is the main
tenance OF roads that have already
been built. THIS one thing has re-
iarded bodybuilding more than any
thing else. County afte- county has
bulk roads and then allowed them to
60 down for lack OF few repairs.
"All kinds Of roads. no matter OF
what material they are built. must be
maintained. The only permanent part
OF a road Is Its location. For this
reason the location should be made
with the greatest care The greatest
detriment to BODYBUILDING has been
improper location on account OF politi.
cal influence brought 10 bear on the
county commissioners chen the loca'
ton Of a road is to be determined. Nc
road should be built that has not beer
mapped out BY a competent engineer
II Is along this line that the gcce
roads association can exert It's infiu.
ence and be Of immense benefit to the
county. The association should gei
behind the county commissioners and
help In the location, construction ant
maintenance Of roads.
Another thing to which I desir,
10 call your attention Is the fact thai
oniy a small percentage OF the road,
IN the county viii be paved or ma
cadamlzed in A long time to come
These roads can Be kept in good shaps
a. least eleven months in the year 4
the proper methods are pursued. II
your association can get your people
and the county commissioners to real
lie this you will soon have these roads
In good shape for that length Of tim,
each year. The only thing necessar,
10 put the ordinary dir: roads IN shap'
and. keep them so eleven months IA
the year Is 10 use the split-log drag
This is not a theory. but II is a demon,
stra,ed fact that has been proved tim,
and time again IN all parts OF III,
country.
"Your association can also be o.
immense benefit to The travelling pub.
Tic by insisting that sign boards b,
placed at each Of the road crossing.
and other necessary places. You car
exert an influence for good, not only
In your own county, but in adjoining
counties, thar viii Be OF almost IN.
lealcutabIe value"