The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1920-01-02
ASK FEI)ER AL AID FOR
SOUTH MILLS HIGHWAY
Pasouotank EIig ghvsay Commission Makes Strong
Appeal For This Importaa Road, and Puts
itself on Record as to Other Projects
PaSquotank

Cornmis has made applica-
ton to the. State Highway Com
mission for State and Federal
Aid in the construction of hard
.selr faced road from Elizabeth
City to county line .atSa point
near South Mills. The applica-
ton is ones Of paramount inter
stto every tax payer IN Pasquo-
tank county particularly and to
the enortheastern North 6 CareEna
and Iidewater irginia public
generally. In view Of the mali
eiouss miscflievots and unjust
criticism directed. at ttlie atio7
tank Highway Commissions by
@ persons who are Wedded@to one
road project only, this IaeWspa-
per has secured verbatim copy
Of the letter. of chairman Wood
ley accompanying the application
Tor State and Federal Aid for the
South Mills route and publishes
It in full herewith. It is a lengthy
document, but it is full Of infor-
nation and clearly defines the
{ ideas of the Pasquotank High
way Commission. It puts mat
tiers -squar1y up to State High
way Commissioner Page who
has seemingly lodged every
previous. application for funds
Z for road construction in tliis part
Elizabeth City, =. c.
Dec. % 1919
state Highway Commission,
Raleigh. =. G..
~ Gentlemen:
In Considering our application Tor
State and Federal Aid, in the construct
ion of hard surfaced road from Eillz-
abefh City to the county line near South
Mills we respectfulIy ask that you bear
in mind the following facts when pass
ing ozass ssectlell ot
road be incorporated in the State Sys-
TEN of Highways.
tst, This is an important post road.
For its entire distance this roads
used as post road and one of the most
important in the county, which brings 1t
within the scope of the Federal Ald
Act.
I'd. The immediate economic benetIts
to be derived are large.
Serving as the main artery OF travel
for a large territory and population
embraced in the townships of Newland
and Providence. which are both fertile
in soil and peopled with progressive and
high-class citizens, the possibilities OF
these townships are limited only be ac-
feasibility to markets are limited only by
accessibility of transportation the rail-
accessibility to markets or to the pri-
mary systems of transportation the
railroads. =
During certain seasons of the year 1T
is impossible for these people to trans
port their produce to market over the
present roads. and the only other avail
able method of transportation-a small
boat line-is frequently unable to oper-
ate on account of ice. Usually these
conditions occur at the same time, dur
ing which seasons large part OF our
people are practically isolated both In
a social and business way.
Sd. 1t will connect our county seat
with the principal town of our neighbor
county.
South Mills is the principal town in
Camden County, in fact is the only IN
corporated town except Elizabeth City
in the three northeastern counties.
y At present North Carolina is losing
, large share of the business of this
town to Virginia. We believe the con-
structon of this road will save this
business to North Carolina
4th. 1t is a section of the shortest
route TO Norfolk and Portsmouth, the
county seat of Norfolk county, Va.
y bond issue has been made by the
township of South Mills for $4,000 for
the construction of the section of this
route within our State. Virginia Rep
resentatives have given assurance that
the section of this route within their
state will be Incorporated in the Vir-
gnia State Highway System at the next
Legislature. From Portsmouth there is
both a ,macadam and an asphalt road
already laid for a distance of about
miles on this route.
The entire distance to Norfolk by
this route is about 43 miles.
5th. 1t is a section of the logical
route to connect our county seat with
Gates county and with GatesVille, its
county seat.
At present there is no direct connect
ing highway between Pasquotank Coun-
ty and Gates County.
In thus connecting our county seat
with South Mills Portsmouth and Gates
vile this road comes clearly within the
State Aid Act which provides for a
system Of modern highways connecting
the various county seats and other
principal towns Of every county in the
State
Years ago, we are told, there was a