The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-01-07
The Services Of
John M. MOrehead
Continued from Page Six

and travel in the central section Of
n State, he said:
Il would respectfully invite your
as.ens,Nn to the public I1a Highways
vile, the highest point of good navi-
CATION. westward TO the BuncOmbe
turnpike, a distance of some two hum
dred and fifty or three hundred miles,
what ~navigable stream, railroad, turn
pike, or macadamized highway gives
90 the laborer facilities Of transporta-
ton? None, Literally one This
vast extent of territory, reaching from
the Blue Ridge in the west to the
alluvial region in h east, and ex-
believed, will compare with any spot
upon the globe for the fertility Of its
soil, the variety Of it's productions,
the salubrity of its climate. the beauty
of its landscapes, the richness Of its
mines, the facilities for manufactures.
and the intelligence and mora worth
OF its population. Can another such
territory, combining all these advan-
tages, be found pon the face of the
whole earth 50 wholly destitute Of
natural or artificial facilities for a
portation?"
What scheme. that is practicable"
he asked, will afford the desired
facilities" And in answer to this
query he made two recommendations.
The remedy for these evils is be-
slcFcO u Ne III SOOO L0Tup1kcS.
therefore recommend
that a charter be granted to make
a turnpike road from the city OF Raj
eigh to some point westward selected
with a view to its ultimate contin-
nance to the extreme west.
Should this road be continued to
Waynesville lnow Goldsboro1, which
might be done at comparatively small
expense, the farmer woul have the
choice OF markets, Of Wilmington by
the railroad, or New Bern by the
Further ne recommended:
That a charter be granted to make
n turnpike from Fayetteville to the
lYadkin river at some point above the
Narrows, or, II deemed more exped-
leading from Raleigh westward, thus
giving the west the advantages OF
both markets. Should this
road ever each the Yadkin, no doubt
is entertained of it's continuance
across h Catawba westward-thus
which will arise from the navigation
of these two noble rivers"
Nearly seventy years were to pass
before the State was ready for the
execution Of these plans, n it was
left for the engineers Of 1912 to
realize what the statesman OF 1912
had dreamed. A vaster work was
waiting the constructive genius OF
Morehead.
Turning his eyes farther westward
Governor Morehead foresaw the
future development of the mountain
Ous section Of North Carolina TC
make this region more Interesting, he
declared, W. I'VE only to make i
more accessible, and continuing, HI
said:
"The sublimity and beauty Of it
mountain scenery, h purity Of it.
waters, the buoyancy and salubrity o.
its atmosphere, the fertility of its val
legs. the verdure of it's mountains, and
above all, its energetic, intelligent AM
hospitable inhabitants, make it an in
viting portion of the State.
When good roads shall be establish
ed in that region, 1t Is believed tn
population will increase with rapid
tty. agriculture improve, grazing will
be extended, and manufactures am
the mechanic arts will flourish in
location combining sc many advan
tages and inviting their growth. Tn
improved highways will be additions
Inducements to the citizens of othe
sections of our State to abandol
their usual northern tours, or visit
to the Virginia watering places, for
tour much more interesting among on
own mountains, much cheaper an
much more beautiful tour in whtc
they will inspire health in ever
breath and drink in health at ever
draught."
Governor Morehead did not expec
indeed, he did not desire, that til
General Assembly should proceed {
put all of his recommendations int
immediate effect. He realized onl
too we'll that such a procedure woul
require enormou OUTLAWS far beyon
the of the State, and h
never forgot that debt contracted tt
day must be paid tomorrow. Stuff
cient warning Of the effects of sue
a course was not lacking. Many {
the Southern and Western States en-
barking in wild and extravagaI
schemes Of internal improvement
had made such vast expenditures tn
their treasures had become bAnkruI
and their people oppressed with obi
cations which they could not NEE
and to extrica.e themselves they H.,
resOrted TO the very simple but vel
effective means of reputation.
Governor MOrehead loved progre