The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1919-03-14
A GOOD ROADS PROGRAM
THAT SPELLS PROSPERITY
Pasquotank Will Not Be Content With One Inter
state Highway Transportation Problems
Demand Dismal Swamp Route Too

now IS praCClcaIy assured OI Cne
construction of a permanent
hard surfaced highway beteween
the Albemarle Sound and the
Virginia line, connecting the
county seats of Chowan, Perqui-
mans, Pasquotank, Camden and
C1rrituck. 1t is absolutely GER
tain that Pasquotank county
will spend a half million dollars
within the next twelve months
IN the construction of hard sur
faced roads in this county. But
we must not permit our enthus-
iasm to abate; we have only be-
gun the great work of knitting
together the peoples of north
eastern North Carolina and tide
water Virginia with system OF
good and durable highways. 1t
is not enough that we should
have a modern highway into and
out of Norfolk, Va; we should
tap Norfolk county from another
direction. have a highway into
the city of Portsmouth by way of
the Dismal Swamp Canal and
unite the county of Gates to the
county Of Pasquotank by build
ing from this highway into
Gates.
The foregoing is in part the message
delivered by Mr.. Saunders to an au-
dience at. the Alkrama Theatre We'd
nesday ngiht. Mr.. Saunders delivered
something of the same message to the
City Council of the City of Portsmouth
Va Tuesday night. Mr.. Saunders told
the Councilmen of Portsmouth that
Pasquotank would build a hard surfaced
road from Elizabeth City to the Camden
county line at point near South Mills;
that South Mills township, to be bond
ed for $4,000, will continue that high
way from Pasquotank along the Dismal
Swamp Canal, to- the irginia. line.
From there on the task of completing
is the task of the city of Portsmouth
and the County of Norfolk. The coun-
ty of Norfolk is interested; an appro-
priation of $4,000 from the city OF
Portsmouth will c1inch the matter. w
l. Cohoon, of Elizabeth City, and w
l. Halstead of South Mills, followed
Nr. Saunders in addressing the Ports
mouth Councilmen. The Council will
pass upon the question of an appropria-
ton as soon they get an opinion from
their attorney assuring them of the
legality of such an act.
Every progressive man, woman and
child in Pasquotank, Camden and every
other northeastern North Carolina
county should get behind this Dismal
Swamp Highway project. 1t means a
shorter route to Norfolk from Elizabeth
City, by ten miles. 1t means route
that does not cross q rail road track
this side of the Virginia line.
And a shorter distance route to Nor
folk means much more to Elizabeth
City than a road that will enable peo-
pie to get to Norfolk; it means greater
transportation facilities for northeastern
North Carolina. 1t will even affect the
prosperity and general welfare of the
people of the lower sounds. Did you
Know that it is with the greatest diff
Guilty that the fishermen of Dare county
VINO ship their fish to market thru
this city, get their fish from Eliza
beth City to the rail road and steam
snip terminals of Norfolk. Right now
We are running a special train thrice
Il week from Elizabeth City to Norfolk
70 handle these fish That train may
he taken off any day and rail road
schedules can not be easily arranged tC
i make connection with the north bound
trains and steamers from Norfolk. The
fisherman has got to get his fish tc
market the day after they are caught
Delay means bad fish and a loss OF
thousands of dollars
But suppose we had, say, cement
roads between Elizabeth City and Nor
folk. Instead of special trains secured
with great difficulty for the transporta-
ton of perishable food stuff, we woulo
have fast motor trucks to handle this
business. Trains are cumbersome and
Offer veXing problems of loading, un-
loading and transferring. The big
motor truck, even a 20 ton truck, is ar
Independent, flexible unit that wastes
no time. A special train does well tc
make one trip of 40 miles in a day; g
motor truck can make the trip severa
lines over.
The motor truck will solve the tran
sDortation problems of northeastern
North Carolina when we get roads or
which motor trucks can travel with
safety and speed. The motor truck
will carry the produce of these counties
TO market and bring back much of the
perishable and semi -perishable foot
stuff which we buy from the outside
market.
We are at the beginning of a grea
era of Industrial; agricultural and com
mercial development in northeastern
North Carolina; a development tina
carries with it better schools, bette
social conditions and more of the lif
worth living. Elizabeth City shoul
teei proud of the part it is playing il
thls development and Elizabeth Cit,
VIII reap many rewards for her pro