The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1919-03-07


eastern North Carolina district
highway bill which passed the
State Senate last week like a
streak of creased lightning, was
killed in the Committee on Public
Roads and Turnpikes in the
House of Representatives, We'd
nesday afternoon. The commit
tee unanimously adopted an un-
favorable report on the bill.
Senator Ferebee's bill proposed to
create a highway district composed of
the counties of Chowan, Perquimans,
Pasquotank, Camden and Currituck.
A bond issue would be levied against
this district for the purpose of build
ing standard cement road from the
Albemarle Sound to the Virginia State
Line, via Edenton, Hertford, Elizabeth
City, Shawboro, Snowden and Moyock
The project would cost nearly million
dollars. But it was provided in the
bill that one half the cost of the road
should be built by state and federal
aid. That left approximately 100000
for the five counties. But it was fur
ther provided that abutting property
owners along the line Of the survey
should pay one-fourth the total cost
$25O,00 in bonds to be issued by the
district
Pasquotank's pro rata of this bond
issue, based upon it's taxable property
valuation would have been about four
ninths of the whole.
Representative Saunders Of Pasquo-
tank favored the project, believing it
of inestimable Importance to Pasquo-
tank county and especially to Eliza
quotank were not so favorable. Sena-
tor Ferebee made the colossal mistake
of not taking the people into his con-
fidence. Satisfied in his own mind
that he had a good thing. he somehow
didn't see the need of enlisting any
considerable support. Senator Fere-
bees scheme, if properly managed,
would have given northeastern North
Carolina a much coveted road to Nor
folk, Va. The roads of five counties
would have been improved thereby.
And Pasquotank would have gotten
about seven miles of road and $4,000
free bridge across the PaSquotank
river with a bond issue of about $780,
900. No one Who understood the thing
could we'll oppose it.
REPRESENTATIVE DISAGREE
But Representative Mcmillan of
Chowan would not stand for Chowan
to be embraced in the district because
the road would cost Chowan more than
it cost Perquimans and Perquimans
would get three miles of road to Chow
kn's one.
With Chowan out of it, Representa-
tive Saunders of Pasquotank proposed
to carry out the scheme by beginning
the highway at Hertford. Representa-
consent to this. He thought the road
should begin at the Chowan line. Saun-
ders would not consent to this; since
Chowan would not come in on the pro-
ject, Mr.. Saunders was opposed to in
creasing the cost to Pasquotank by
building a, road from Hertford to Eden
ton. That was going in the wrong dir
ection for him, unless Edenton helped
to pay the freight.
And so then and there the Ferebee
Highway went to smash. Represent
tative Johnson of Currituck was inter-
ested in the project only to the extent
of following the lead of Pasquotank
Representative Burgess of Camden did
D
preventative Kessler of Rowan moved
that the bill be reported unfavorably.
He said it was evident that the counties
were not in harmony on the project and
the committee should not force the
measure on them. Representative Hal
sey of Washington seconded the mo-
tion. The ayes had it.
c00n D0Anc ANYWAY