Jackson County journal., 1919-02-14

The ROAD QUESTION
Editor Asheville TINES:
Unconsciously The T lines did Mr.
Cowan. the genial and enthusiastic
gentleman from Jackson county an
injustice in its report of the address
delivered by MIR. Cowan, and the sus-
gestion went out that Mr.. Cowan
wanted county seats 5000 popula-
ton" and over linkedin a system of
good roads. The size of the towns
was the error. Mr.. Cowan wants ALL
c,unty seats and for thnt matter all
of the leading towns of Western
North Carolina linked with hard sur
faced roads. He believes that good
roads will make Western North Car
DINA what it has a right to be-the
| garden spot of le Old North State.
In your issue of February first.
you report me as having said, in
addressing the Good Roads meeting
in session in your city on that date,
among other things, That hoped
to see a system of highways built
that would connect every County
seat having over 5000 populati IN.
in the entire State"
neither used this expression nor
any expression which carried such
a kind ed limitation. feel that it
would be an injustice to the cause
of good roads to let this statement
90 without correction. In fact, a |
was discussing the Stevens Scales
State Wide Road Law, and offered
tne resolution endorsing the same,
; which resolution was unanimously
and enthusiastically adopted by the
meeting of the twenty-five mountain
counties, the public might be led to
believe that the meeting had by
F.. implication endorsed as we'll as
this statement, when in fact | die
} not make the statement and an
sure that it was far from the spiri
I of the meeting to endorse any sucl
limitations to the States participa
I ton in the construction of our high
! way systems. VIII lie most of ou
towns in these mountain countie
d seem 10 have a steady, health,
h growth many of the county seat
J. have not reached population o
5000, and in some instances, tn
l. largest towns in the county are j
IT the county seats. Even Buncomb
y county. with its great metropoli
n Of the west, could not advocate sue
IS a limitation without doing an il
III justice to many Of its sister cOuntie
1t Good roads is no longer loc;
n. question. While all local commun
tn ties must urgently feel the eed (
n good roads, all students of the que
ID ton have come to the conclusio
MT that the problem of good roads
I'd much broader than any sommunit
&c To illustrate. Buncombe county w
be soon have it's principal highwa,
'iy built to its county lines, conseQuen
h7 ly it is beginning strongly to fe
es. the need of good roads it every a
Nv joining county. Every piece of so'
~ highway built calls for another
~ make more efficient the use of t
Gu money thus invested. So it must
ON until the Tennessee, Georgia al
! South Carolina state lines are reac
~ ed in every general direction.
hg The spirit of the meeting at Ash
lu- vile was for Statewide SySte
the and Countrywide system elias
an in its purposes and operations, a
- presenting the fullest harmony a
~ cooperation bet veen the two. The
'on was apparently no desire or int,
SIN ton to place such harmful restl
ely tions, and | am quite sure il was
ca- oversight on The part of your repc
-. er in SO quitting me. but such sta
oo' ment might be calculated to pre-
lct' dice pending legislation and otl
list desirable legislation yet to be pro-
ON sed to the Legislature.
nm Very truly yours.