The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-06-28

Note; The following is the first of
series of articles by DR.. Joseph
Hyde Pratt. State Geologist of North
Carolina which appeared in South
| ern Good Roads" and which are so
enlightening on the question now be-
fore the citizens of Sumter County.
that The Item will print them ver-
| batim.-Editor.
| Introduction.
with the development of our nation
has shown that We take first rank in
civil government. manufactures, COM
merce. and in the worlds affairs gen.
orally, yet, improved public road con-
struction. the one phase of our Ameri-
can life upon which depends more
| than any other the certain prosperity
and social comfort of large majority
Of our citizens. has been neglected to
degree that is almost beyond the
power Of conception.
Our wisest statesmen have for sever
al years been attracted by the ques-
tion OF transportation, and of the
three important methods Of transpor-
tation, railways. waterways and
roads. the two former have received
the bulk of the consideration Of our
statesmen. and yet / believe that in
the end the public road Is the most
important. for the reason that at
least 80 per cent of the freight must
first be hauled over 1t.
The question Of the improvement Of
our public roads is becoming one of
the more important ones Of the day,
and the cry is going up from all over
this country to the State Legislatures
and to Congress for better public
roads. 1t is not only a county and
State question but 1t is becoming a
national one. and 1t Is bound to re-
ceive the carefl! consideration Of all
who are interested In the development
of the State and county.
When railroading was first begun
in this country many persons had the
Idea that there would be but lit
tie use for the public road in those
sections Of the country that were
traversed by the railroad. Time has
demonstrated. however. that rail-
roads are simply the main arteries
Of travel. and public roads are the
veins. each being a necessary part
OF the other in our system Of trans
portation, and that without the pub
lie roads the railroads would fail in
accomplishing what is required and
demanded Of them.
Agricultural products are a vital
necessity Of every country and must
be provided, no matter what else has
to be given up. The magnitude Of
their production in the South Is not
equalled either in value or in tonnage
by the products of any other industry.
Nearly all agricultural products have
TO be carried for at least a small dis
tance over our public roads. and the
cost of this transportation has to be
deducted from the value Of the agri-
cultural product to the farmer who
prodr' IS II.
improvements In railway transpor-
tation facilities are approaching a
high state OF efficiency, while the
public highways have in many States
been greatly neglected. The people
are. however. now turning their at
tention TO the question of the i'm
provement OF public roads, and, al
though this awakening has come
rather late. the people Of the South
will attack it with the same force and
vigor that they have taken up other
questions OF vital importance to the
State and to the nation.
In North Carolina the good roads
movement has spread to such an ex-
tent now that it is not "Do we want
tain good roads?" OF the 100 coun-
ties in the State containing approxi-
mHtely $4,000 miles OF public roads,
very large majority of 'hem have
given expression to- their ia. ,rest in
good roads by having bills introduced
at the last two sessions Of the legisla-
ture relating to the Improvement OF
the public roads in their respective
counties. This does not mean. how
ever. that all these counties are con-
structing macadam roads or even
good graded roads but that they have
begun to reah?a the need of good
roads and are making an attempt to
remedy the evil Of poor roads.