Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1937-01-07

have such complete system and one
which SO nearly meets the needs of
every section. The building of hard
surfaced or permanent roads has SO
far progressed tht practically every
county site or practical town in the
state is connected by a dependable
highway. Since the state has taken
over the maintenance of all public
roads, great progress has been made
in providing all the year round Sc
condary roads. North Carolina stands
almost alone in the service which she
renders the people of the state in the
matter of providing and maintaining
all highways, thus relieving the coun-
ties of all expense in connection with
this important phase of governmental
service. In the beginning of this cen
fury the state did not spend any
money on public roads, the whole bur
den resting upon the counties, and
we had no road system The transit
ton has been complete so that the
state now bears all the expense with
the aid Of the federal government,
and we are developing a great high
way system
ASOANS dAACCI IIC DGOplC So VlIdllX
that they feel a lively interest in
every phase of road service. Without
disparaging any of the fine things
already accomplished, I believe that
1t is possible to make still further
improvements. In order to more ade-
quately serve all the people, I think
increased attention should be given
to the secondary or county roads, so
that these roads may be still further
improved and maintained in ypassable
condition all the year round. These
are the roads of all the people and the
main highways are not available to a
large proportion of our population I'M
til they have first travelled these
county or secondary roads to reach
the leading highways.
Another matter of vital concern to
the farmers of the state is that some
provision should be made in the build
ing of highways through fields and
farms to take care of the accumulat-
ed water and not emrty it in such
volume as to seriously wash and dam
age the land. This is a serious prob
lem in many sections and a constant
source of damage to the landowners
and to farmers.
In order to secure the united sup
port of all the people of our highway
program, it is not alone essential that
there shall be q fair distribution of
road money and benefits in every Sec
tion of the state, but the people of all
sections shall feel that they are get
ting fair allotment, and that no sec
ton is being neglected. With the
view of bringing the highway system
into more intimate relationship with
the needs of the State, recommend
ed that the Highway and Public
Works Commission be composed of
ten members including the chairman.
l do not favor the appointment Of the
members of this commission upon the
basis of the location of the several
Congressional Districts. Neither do
l favor the creation of the impress
sion that our road system is a sec
tiOnal or local function of govern
ment Our rond system is a state
system, but must be administered
| with a far and just regard to local
needs. To that end, I recommend
that the state be divided into nine
administrative road districts best
adapted to the most effective utiliza-
ion of all the local forces and factors
essential to the complete possible de-
velopment of a well knit state Sys-
tenn of public highway. It is my ma
tured judgment that this change will
make for the efficient and satisfac-
tory service of this important state
agency and will afford the people of
each district a responsible represen-
IA tive fn Szyhnrn thou 81
road problems for investigation and
adjustment.
The last General Assembly made a
substantial reduction in the price of
automobile license tags and this re-
duction has not adversely affected the
road revenue. L recommend that you
make a still further reduction in the
price Of these tags, which will afford
much needed relief to the motorists
without unduly impairing the road
fund.
The expenditures from the road
fund have been heavy during the past
year and these expenditures must con-
tinue throughout the New Year in
order to rehabilitate our roads and
protect the heavy investment which
the state has made in hem. I shall
insist that the road funds should be
preserved and used for the purpose
for which these taxes have been levied
and the revenues collected, with no
diversion of this money except such
amount as will be justified by the
sales tax levy, as previously authoriz-
ed.
THE HAZARD OF THE ROAD
We read the daily record of injury
and death on our highways and we
stand appalled, in the presence of the
slaughter of human lives. The story
so often says it was an unavoidable
accident. That is not enough. Most
of these accidents could have been
avoided if somebody had exercised the
proper care. 1t is not always the
drivers fault, and frequently the &C
cident was unavoidable so far as he
was concerned but there must be
borne in upon the consciousness of the
whole people the imperative obliga-
ton to exercise care. It is gratifying
tn En0vv fhaf fho nnr0onfo Oo IF fofo.