The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-08-19
BECKETT AND PRATT ADDRESS
THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
The Attorney General Argues For the Proposed Amend
ment Of The Constitution Relating to Taxation and
His Position Is Approved State Geologist Speaks
on Good Public Roads, Which The Commissi' ~rs
Hold Should Be Worked by State Convicts

Statesville. Aug. 16.-The outstand-
the North Carolina Association Of
Wednesday and Thursday Of this
week were the address of Attorney
General T. w. Beckett on the subject
of Taxation, the address OF DR.. Joseph
Hyde Pratt. State Geologist. on the
subject of Good Roads, and the ac-
tion of the commissioners with refer
ence to their bill introduced in the
General Assembly of 1913 providing
for the working of State cOnvicts on
the public roads. They learned that
their bill was killed in the closing
days of the session and resolved to try
again at the special session.
Legislative Committee Reports.
When President ID. McEachern call
ed for the report OF the legislative
Committe appointed at last years
meeting of the association, DR.. Brad
shaw. Of Guilford, chairman Of the
torney. B. G. Beckwith. Of Raleigh,
reported that In accordance with a
resolution adopted by the association
3ast year, the committee prepared
bill authorizing the use Of State con-
victs on the public roads and had the
bill introduced into the Legislature by
uIon Il. A. Doughton; that the bill
passed its several readings In both
houses Of the Legislature and was
ordered ratified. but for some reason
unknown to the committee 1t was re-
called from the enrolling room the
day before the General Assembly ad-
5ourned. When the bill failed to ap-
pear In the printed acts Mr.. Beckwith
hunted it up and found the word re
called" stamped on the original.
Counties Represented.
The roll call showed the following
counties represented: Haywood. An
son, Cumberland, Warren, Columbus
Hertie, Green. Jones, Gates. Mecklen'
burg. Carteret. Wake Durham, EoSe'
Eombe. Robson. Iredel, Halifax
1enoir. Randolph. Moore. Sampson
Pender, Guilford. Rowan. Vance
Union. PasQuotank. Henderson, Beau
fort and Lee.
DR.. Pratt Speaks.
DR.. Pratt discussed every phase O.
road Improvement, giving the com
misioners much valuable information
After expressing his belief that tn
State Association of County Commls
sioners is probably the most import
ant Of all the associations in tho Stat
and declaring that 1t can do more 10
the advancement Of the State thai
any other association. Dr.. Pratt ex
pressed the hope that there would D
greater cooperation among tne varl
Gus counties and greater uniformit
Of methods leading toward the be1
terment OF the whole State.
MY subject" said he, us yer
live one. The problems of good pub
lie roads is not yet solved, by an
means. The need OF good roads an
the beneficial results from them ar
now admitted by all. but the questio
is how to raise revenue to build goo
roads, and how to construct an
maintain them. No county should o
satisfied until every section OF tni
county is served by good roads: Som
have already done this and the
question Is maintenance. 1t has bee
found that no road is really perms
nent. the only thing about the roa
that is permanent being its Location
and for this reason the road ShOuld |
all means be properly Located. Ii
idea once prevailed that macada
road was something permanent, o.
we have found differently. NO matts
how well road is built II must
watched up and kept ln\repair. Inc
are few sections which can afford II
better grade of roads constructed
tar. asphalt and maCadam prepar
tions and these are really not satl
factory, considering the cost. The OF
road that does give satisfaction is q
sandclay or gravel road. This IS 9
one road that can be kept good s
days in the year at little cost. ~
cost Of sand-clay roads in North ca
olina has ranged from $500 to $1,S
per mile according to the amount
grading to be done and the distan
the sand or top dressing must
hauled. These roads can be mai
tanned and kept in good condition
running dragS over them after ca
heavy rain and repairing the hol
~th the same kind Of soil used