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Thursday, February 7, 2019

In Favor and Against Paving More Roads in North Carolina, Feb. 7, 1919

From the Jackson County Journal, Sylva, N.C., Friday, Feb. 7, 1919

Road Meeting in Asheville

That the western counties of North Carolina are unanimous in their support of the Stevens-Scales “state wide” roads bill, now pending before the legislature, was shown this morning, when delegations from 19 of the 22 counties, composing the western section, adopted a resolution calling for the enactment of the measure.

Over 90 county officials and good roads enthusiasts were present at the conference held here today. The gathering included members of the county boards of commissioners, road commissioners, and prominent citizens interested in the good roads campaign in North Carolina.

Following a discussion of the Stevens-Scales bill, a resolution (to pass the bill was) introduced by C.C. Cowan of Sylva, Jackson county, which was adopted unanimously.

Following the enthusiastic passage of the endorsement, the chairman of the meeting was instructed to telegraph the resolution and the actin to Judge Stevens, author of the Stevens-Scales bill, immediately. A similar telegram was also ordered dispatched to Representative Cameron, who is the good roads champion in the lower house.

Members of the various county delegations decided that a copy of the resolution and action of the conference will be telegraphed tonight to each representative and senator from the western counties of the state, with a request that they do their utmost to secure passage of the Stevens-Scales bill.

That the western counties of the state are deeply interested in the passage of legislation that would make possible access of a federal good roads appropriation for North Carolina was indicated in the large and enthusiastic attendance at the opening of the conference here. There was no discord, and the delegates united in their support of the Stevens-Scales bill.

At its opening session the conference named T.L. Gwyn, chairman of the board of county commissioners of Haywood county, as chairman of the conference. J.M. Lyons of Yancey county was chosen secretary, and W.T. Lindsey of Polk county and A.G. Deweese of Cherokee county were elected vice-presidents. Immediately the conference got down to business with a statement by Wythe M. Peyton, division engineer and others.

It was stated that the national government has before it an act to appropriate $100 million annually for a period of 10 years to aid the states in the improvement of its main highways. Of this it is estimated that the state of North Carolina would receive over $2 million annually, provided an equal amount is provided by the state, as the national government refused to pay more than half the cost of construction on any project. In order to form a schedule and work in co-operation so as to secure the benefit of this proffered federal aid, was the object of calling the conference. Because the state legislature is now in session and must take action or pass the matter, a crisis has arrived in the matter of taking steps to secure the federal assistance.

Mr. Cowan took the floor during a discussion of the most feasible plan, and introduced his resolution endorsing the Stevens-Scales bill. In brief, the bill would place a tax based on the horse power of motor vehicles. If insufficient revenue is raised annually to meet the federal appropriation, then the balance will be raised by appropriation from state funds. Mr. Cowan said that other methods had been considered, such as placing a tax of 1 cent per gallon on gasoline, but such laws have been tested and were found unconstitutional. The speaker said he hoped to see a system of highways perfected in North Carolina that would extend from the see to the Tennessee border and from the north to the South Carolina line. Also he hoped to see a system of highways built that would connect every county seat having over 5,000 population, in the entire state.

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From the editorial page

Jackson the Key to Road Situation in the West

Jackson County holds the strategic position in the construction of State highways if it will only act promptly and progressively. Buncombe naturally holds the first position because roads radiate naturally in all directions from Asheville. Fifth miles west from there is our progressive town of Sylva, from which highways radiate naturally in all directions. We perhaps have more miles of State highways naturally radiated from Sylva than any county in the west—first is the road leading from Balsam Gap via Sylva toward the Tennessee and Georgia lines, with Swain and the other western counties enthusiastically and urgently demanding its construction. Next and of no less importance, is the highway beginning at Sylva and extending up Savannah to Franklin and on to the Georgia line at Clayton, with the Macon County people enthusiastic and demanding its construction, and a state Highway extending from Sylva up to the Tuckaseegee river to the South Carolina line and also connecting with the road to Brevard. The Transylvania citizens are enthusiastic for this road because it connects two important County seats by a route with one half the distance that the road can be built any other way, besides this road would open up one of the richest sections in natural resources there is in the State, in scenic beauty it would not have an equal in the State.

These roads are all of the dignity of State highways and entitled to participate in Federal and State aid, if our intelligent and influential citizens will all get back of the movement and thoroughly co-operate to this end. As stated in the beginning with progressive and intelligent action, we hold the strategic position. We cannot afford to be the dog in the manger and lose this by forcing all the other Counties which so badly need highways to find a way to get around us. Let us have intelligent, progressive and united action. This question is too big, too important, and holds too closely in its grasp the future progress and hopes of our County and our citizenship for us to have any division or factions among our people.

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From The Commonwealth, Scotland Neck, N.C., Friday, Feb. 7, 1919

Mass Meeting Held Tomorrow Afternoon to Discuss the Halifax Bond Bill of $750,000 Before State Senate

Many of the local citizens and a number of others in the country contiguous to this point are somewhat incensed over the bill known as senate bill No. 336 “to amend chapter 551 of the public laws of 1913 relating to the issue of road bonds in Halifax county.”

Innocent as this bill appears to be it is far reaching and dangerous in that it calls for the power to issue $750,000 of road bonds for the county of Halifax, one-third of which goes to retire bonds already issued in some of the townships, and to raise the road tax from 25 cents to 75 cents.

A meeting is therefore called for 4 o’clock tomorrow Saturday afternoon at the Mayor’s office to discuss this matter, and to determine whether it would be advisable to send delegates to Raleigh to protect our interests.

Every man who pays taxes in Halifax county is interested and should be present to express his views.


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