The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-01-28
ON ROAD LEGISLATION
FOR NORTH CAROLINA
Discussion of Measures Presented and the Needs of
the State For Progressive Plans For the Max
me OF Good Roads Throughout All
the State
the State
BY III. B. WARMER
President North Carolina Good Roads Association

The people OF North Carolina have
expressed through the State and Coun-
ty GOOD Roads Association, through
the Farmers union and convention.
through the lawyers and bankers con-
Ventions. and through the convention
Of the State editors. the leg;sla ton
that they want enacted into law.
ThlS general road legisla ton has
been placed before the General Assem-
bly, of North Carolina in three bills:
one OF which related to the State pro
Vldlng tor engineering assistance to
counties in the location. construction
and maintenance OF their roads. This
bill was introduced in the Senate by
Hon. Wade H. Phillips, senator from
Davidson county, and in the House By
Hon. Nj. A. Griffin, of Wake county
The second relates to the working
Of the State cOnvicts on public roads
and was introduced in the Senate and
in the House by the same members
that introduced the previous bill, and
"e third relates to the State becom-
l.. ecurity for county bonds that are
| issl reor public road construction,
and hass$1sn introduced in the House
lOver. s2h
| Of very serious consideration by the
| people of the State, and, if passed
| will do more for the material advance
~ment Of the State than perhaps any
other legislation that is being consid-
cred.
| Engineering Assistance.
| While some counties have provided
competent road engineers to have su-
pervisiOn Of the location, construction
and maintenance Of their public roads,
the majority have paid but little or no
4, attention to the need Of the employ
| ment Of such engineers; consequently
there is needlessly wasted each year IN
North Carolina a large amount Of
money that could readily be saved to
the county if it was expended under
! the supervision of competent road en-
gineers Or superintendent. There is
over 100000 Of revenue that has been
raised each year for the maintenance
and construction OF public roads, that
is expended in such q way that it does
no good whatever to the road.
! Now, believe at a cost Of less than
one-tenth Of that amount, we can sup
ply such aid to the counties Of North
!, Carolina that this great loss can be
saved. Would that not be a good in
vestment for the States The State
does not get the money back directly
but the counties get it, and everything
We save to a county We save TO the
State.
This is one form Of state aid. and
to my mind. the most important form
: Of State aid that we need at the pres
ent time.
Questions do come up regarding 9th
. ! er forms Of State aid. but dc not care
what form Of aid North Carolina ren
ders her counties, it will be neceSsaF,
> to have plan Of cooperation b.
which the roads built are constructed
in accordance with specification
.. worked out by one OF the states com
!! petent road engineers. And SO
comes back to the question Of engi
neering assistance as TO the first ans
most needed form of State aid. Thl
is the form Of State aid that will brin'
the quickest returns t. the State an
: county, and can be accomplished at
1 very small outlay.
l. The revenue necessary for giving til
e engineering assistance is to be derive
: from the tax on automobiles At IN
Z annual meeting OF the North CarOllr
: Good Roads Association this Questio
h Of revenue was very Thoroughly dis
cussed. and the automobilists present
e who represented all parts Of the State
n were unanimously in favor or this Dll
?, and we're Of the opinion that the I'd
It upon automobiles should go for thi
e purpose. and that If this was done
e there would be little or no complain
); from the automobilists on account .
e the tax.
: Stat, COnyicts on Public Roads.
Shall State conyicts be used in build
ing public roads, or shall they b
leased to railroads and other cori'ofe'