How to Get a Paved Road by W.J. Groome, 1915

How to Get a Paved Road by W.J. Groome in the Progressive Farmer, as reprinted in the Albemarle Observer, Edenton, N.C., Jan. 8, 1915, “Look Forward, and Not Back”

Let me say in the first place we live eight miles from town, our market. There has been a macadam road five miles of the way. Recently a delegation of us went before our county commissioners asking that they grade and built the remaining three miles. The answer of the commissioners was, “We have not the money to go so far out and can’t built all the roads in the county now. You need and road and we would be glad to accommodate you, but all the macadam roads must be kept up.”

Of course, they were right, but we wanted to live on a good road and get rid of mud, hills, rocks and stumps, and we could not move our farms out on the macadam road. So we asked the commissioners what was the best proposition they would make us, for we were in earnest. They then agreed to put up one dollar for every one we would give in cash or work. A team was allowed $3 and shovel hands $1.25 to count against the commissioners’ cash. Then we got busy with subscriptions and in a short time we had $670 in cash and labor. Most of it was labor, which was the same to us.

In about 60 days we had built 3 ¾ miles of gravel road, which is said to be one of the best pieces of road in Guilford County. The commissioners graded and scraped the road bed and furnished the tools.

I should like to say for the benefit of any community that wants roads that you will always find your county commissioners ready to help you. But you will always find, too, some “tight wads” in every community who will not help you a penny, but will discourage you all they can. They will put the excuse that pay road tax, and that they are not able to have their families to keep up. But remember, if you want a road, and want it bad enough, you can get it.

Put yourself on the map and get out to civilization.