Newspapers / The Cherokee Scout (Murphy, … / April 1, 1927, edition 1 / Page 4
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SSfce Cbcrofeee ?>cout The Official Organ of Murphy and Published Every Friday C. W. Bailey Editor-Manager Mrs. C. W. Bailey Associate Ed. B. W. SiPE Associate Ed. Entered in the postoffice at Murphy, North Carolina, as second class mail matter under Act of March 3, 1879. Subscription Rates One Year $1.50 Eight Months 1.00 Six Months 75c Payable Strictly in Advance Legal advertisements, want ads, reading notices, obituaries, cards of thanks, etc., 5 cents line each inser tion, payable in advance. Display and contract rates furnished on request. All communications must be signed by the writer, otherwise they will not be accepted for publication. Name of the writer will not be published un less so specified, but we must have the name of the author as evidence of good faith. THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE COOD ROADS (By Achille du Fresre) Introduction From observation in the past few years some interesting conditions have been brought to light relative to our puulic hisrh and roads. There is an enormous earth road mileage in thv state; Material and financial resources will not permit of the general improvement of many of these roads for years to come, ex cept by grading and maintaining the present earth road. A large perecentage of this earth road mileage is under the jurisdiction of the township trustees, or county read commissioners, most of whom are farmers, who do not have the time to devote to a detailed study of proper grading and maintenance methods. Frequent changes of Road com missioners by election or otherwise, ar.d th_* small rer.umeration for ser vice >f such officials as fixed by statute have been contributing fac tors to present earth road conditions. Experimental work on grading car ried on by many states, has demon strated that an earth road can be im proved 100 per cent and maintained in camporatively good serviceable condition at small cost. In order to transmit the im'orma tion that has been acquired through years of study, experience, and dem onstrations, this writing is being of fered to illustrate and describe, step by step, the necessary operations re quired to drain, construct, and main tain a standard earth road in the most economical way. The earth road is the primary and original type of road, and forms the foundation for any further improve ment. in many states, the practice seems to be to impove the roads, -.vlth hard surface, or with stone and gravel, and allow the caith roads to remain in their original state, forgetting, as we have, that these earth roads in a great many instances can be grad ed, drained, and maintained for a very small amount of- money, and will save in road transportation in one year many times what the cost of maintenance amounts to. Earth roads are allowed to remain in an impassable condition when a littie money spent on them will effect won ders if done in an intelligent and systematic manner. The farmer at one time was con tent with his weekly visit to the near est town, but nowadays he wants to visit his neighbors when the daily chores are done, he wants to go to a movie with his family, and to attend the public meetings. He also wants to be able to send his children to an acceptable school, and to be within easy access of a doctor, and a church where he may worship. Tho only way that this may be ac complished in sections where there is a limitation of finances is to develop some scheme of oarth-road mainten ance, so as to provide transportation facilities to the farmer for as many days in the year as possible. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and a road is only as good as its worst spot. Mud holes that retain water and moisture long after the rest of the road is dry should not be permitted to exist. The cost of hauling machines through J i these barriers to traffic will, if spent intelligently, more than remedy the evil. Drainage alone will provide ! the answer in nearly every instance. | The "MUD" tax is the largest tax that is paid today, because it is a hid den tax and can hardly be estimated in dollars. "We are paying for these roads whether we have them or not" be cause lack of goo<| road facilities means lowered property valuations, inaccessibility to markets, isolation, and higher transportation costs. Location and Design Since nearly all public roads are laid out originally as earth roads, and since the original location and design usually have such an impor tant bearing on all subsequent im provements, it seems well to include in this paper a brief d:scussion of the fundamental principles underlying the proper location and design of a public road. But, before undertak ing such a discussion in detail, it is desired to emphasise the all-impor tant facts that for a particular road the best and most economical loca tion depends upon individual judg ment, and that well-balanced and ex perienced judgment regarding the re lative importance of the various de tails involved, is a much more valu able asset in undertaking to locate a road than mere technical skill in handling surveying instruments. No knowledge gain from books alone can give that complete grasp of the rela tions existing between a public road and the community it serves which is so necessary if the location and Gf jUj. read arc to scctirc the greatest possible good for the money expended. In locating or relocat;ng r? public, road the prime considerations should be, the comfort and convenience of the traveling pubbc which it is in tended to accomodate; and, second, the economy of public funds. The first consideration fixes the general location of the road and limits such details of design and layout as af fects the safety and comfort of trav elers. The second should control the detailed working out of a location to suit the topography of surface lay out of the region through which the road passes, with due regard for such features of the design as affect the cost of construction, of maintenance, and of hauling over the completed road. The comfort and convenience of travellers require, first, that the road pass conveniently close to the dwel ling places of those for whase par ticular use it is built; second, that it be free from dangerous curves and grades and sufficiently wide for safe travel, and, third that the surface be such as to remain reasonably firm and smooth and to become neither very dusty nor wry muddy i*ider any combination of weather and traffic conditions. The extent to which any particular road must meet these requirements depends, of course, on the state of public sentiment in the community which pays for the road. But in ! most communities it is safe to as sume that the standards cf excellence as regards the accommodations de manded of public roads will be raised rather than lowered. Due foresight, therefore, should be exercised in work ing out the location and design of a road, so that later improvements, such as reducing grades, increasing the width of the traveled way, or constructing a better surface, can be made without the necessity of making expensive changes in the location or otherwise wasting any considerable part of the work already accomplish ed. A few general rules regarding the location and design of public roads may be stated briefly as follows: 1. Avoid sharp curves in the road because such curves are a menace to traffic. 2. Provide ample width for ve hicles to pass each other without leaving the travelled way. The ques tion of proper width will be dis cussed later. 3. Bear in mind that if a road ever becomes of any considerable im portance, its <asers probably will de mand that all the steeper grades be reduced to the lowest maximum that would conform to the general topo graphy of the region which the road traverses. The question of grades will be discussed later on. 4. Avoid all unnecessary dis tance. Aside from the advantages to traffic of a short route, each mile of additional road involves a considerable extra yearly expense for maintenance, and this alone may warrant the extra expense of shorten- 1 ing the route when the road is con structed provided that the decrease in d:stance does not materially in crease the steepness of the grades. 5. Regard land lir.es only in so far as this may be done without de creasing the usefulness of the road or increasing its ultimate cost. The tendency in most rural communities "s to locate new roads alone land lines, regardless of the suitablity of j the route, and this has been respon- 1 sible for much waste in the oast. Not infrequently roads located along iand lines have been graded at consider able expenses, and abandoned later when the community demanded a more highly improved road with bet ter grades. In mountainous regions, the prob lem may be to fit the road to the con tour of the country, regardless of land lines, cultivated fields, and all other considerations except grade, drainange, and line. OLD BRASSTOWN ROAD To The Editor: When I wrote my first letter on this subject some weeks ago, I had no idea that it would arouse so much interest and evoke such a stream of correspendence on the subject and such apt comments on so many dif ferent aspects of the question. I was particularly interested and pleased with the letter from Mr. du Fresne, not only on account of the sound and unanswerable arguments he uses in the cause of good roads generally, but also on account of his excellent literary styie. Such w?" written letters would dignify the columns of any newspaper and set uS a standard which we should ail try to attain. I have not the pleasure of his ac quaintance, but understand he is a more recent arrival than myself and [ am sure that, in his case at any rate the County is to be congratulated. I am in cordial agreement with all he says as to the all around advan tages, material and spiritual, accrue ing to community which has a good road system, but I strongly take issue with him on the means of getting such a conditioff. His ponacea for bad roads is. evidently, don't ask the duly consti buted authorities for help, but repair them or build them yourself. I know there is an old saying to the effect that if you want a thing done well you should do it yourself, and Mr. du Fresne evidently had that in mind and has put it in practice, with ex cellent results so far as the road he tells of is concerned. From what he says of his road, however, I would not think ? I may be mistaken ? that the two roads can be compared. This road of ours is not a short semi-pri vate road leading to a few habitations but is a county highway, one of the main arteries of travel into Murphy, a Rural Free Delivery route and ex tensively used by the people of all points east of Murphy, both in North Carolina and Northern Georgia. The reason for this is that it is much shorter than the route over No. 28 ciiid the Patterson Hill, and has not the sharp curves, nor steep grades of Patterson Hill to contend with. In fact this road is logically the route j over which No. 28 should have been taken, but I suppose this is another of those cases where politics got in its questionable work. Again it is not given to everybody to have had the long and Varied ex perience in road building which Mr. du Fresne has to his advantage and what to him as an expert would be a mere matter of everyday work would to the inexperienced layman be quite an undertaking. I may say here that when we made our com plaint before the Commission several of my friends made the proposition that if the county would provide the necessary appliances and material the people would furnish the labor. This offer was received with a smile and the remark that they had heard that kind of talk before. While if that offer had been taken seriously I would have been willing to do my share, and more, in providing labor. I was not in agreement with the prin ciple for tihe following reasons: There is another old saying that "It is no use keeping a dog if you have to bark yourself" and why should we pay taxes and maintain Road Commissioners etc if we have to be our own road makers. I think that while Mr. dtf Fresne has no doubt built a road of benefit to him self and others, to extend the prin ciples to the upkeep of all the county roads would be establishing a dan ' gerous precedent, which, if carried to the logical end, would mean that every land owner would be expected to maintain and keep in order the roads adjoining to his property. To extend this principle of "Do it yourself" we might, although pay ing heavy taxes for schools, police etc., be asked to educate our own children and be our own enforcers of law and order. I do not think that the solution of the bad road and empty treasury question is to be found in Mr. du Fresne's remedy, but rather that the people of the County and especially the press, should be ever vigilant and watchful over the finances, to the end that value shall be received for every dollar spent and that the pub lic funds be not foolishly frittered away in useless and costly extrava gance or dissipated in ways which, not to put it too pointedly, would not bear examination. To quote Mr. du Fresne; over $30,000 is collected every year in this county for roads, and I am sure if this sum was wise ly econnmically and honestly admin istered the roads could be kept in a far better condition than they are at present. To turn to the letter of Mr. Mul key on the subject of the Hanging dog road. I have only travelled this road in summer, when I found it good but perhaps in winter it is not so. He has my sympathy. But from Mr. Mulkey's statement it is plain that a large amount of tax money has been spent on this road, no doubt not al ways wisely, but at any rate enough to make others, less fortunate, en vious, to cossfiel! the thought that somebody with influence in the matter must be interested. I was not aware that the district he spoke for was so well populated. They must have more need of schools than good roads. As for the people having to walk twenty miles to mai! a letter, as the length of road he speaks of is only 7 1-4 miles ? by his figures ? I fail to see how this could be, unless they forget it the first time and had to make a return journey. THOMAS SPENCER. i Schedule next loading, Hayesville April 5th to one p. m.; Murphy nil day Tuesday; pick up Andrews, Top ton, Almond local freight Wednesday morning. North Carolina Department of Agriculture, Divison of Markets, Raleigh, N. C., March 28th, 1927. Dear County Agent' Tht following are poultry prices cash to farmers for loading week end ing Saturday April the 9th: Colored Hens 22c per lb.; Leghorn Hens, 20c per lb.; Cocks, 10c per lb.; Ducks, 18c per lb.; Geese, 12c per lb.; Turkeys 22c per lb.; new Broilers, heavy breed 2 lbs., and under 40c per lb.; New broilers light breed, 2 lbs. and under, 35c per lb.; Friers, 25c per lb.; Guineas, 30c per lb. Poultry market New York unsteady lower prices expected. Heavy move ment al lover country. New York egg market is stronger, outlook for eegs better. Friers should ncigli over 2 puunds to 2 1-2 pounds.* Your very truly, V. W. Lewis, Sr. Marketing Spec. Report of th? Condition of THE BANK OF MURPHY At Murphy, in the State of North Caroline, at the close of business, March 23, 1927 RESOURCES Loans and Discounts $287.1fi2.26 Demand Loans 550.00 Overdrafts .unsecured ... 143.05 United States Bonds and Liberty Bonds 6,700.00 Banking House, Furniture and Fixtures 3,287.00 Cash in vault and net amounts due from banks Bankers and Trust Companies 168,045.18 Cash Items held over 24 hours 149.00 Checks for clearing 2,358.71 Total $468,395.20 LIABILITIES Capital Stock paid in $ 30,000.011 Surplus Fund 15,000.00 Undivided Profits, less cur rent expenses and taxes paid 2,559.1 9 Deposits subject to check, Individual 125,532.50 Time Certificates of Deposit, Due in Less Than 30 Days 289,082.68 Cashier's Checks Out standing 5220.83 Total $468,395.20 State of North Carolina ? County of Cherokee, March 31, 1927. I, L. E. Daylcss. Cashier of the above named Bank do solemnly swear that the above statement is true to the best of my knowledge and belief. L. I-.. BAYLESS,, Cashier. Correct ? Attest: M. W. BELL, W. M. AXLEY, WALTER W. HYDE, Directors. Subscribed and sworn to before mc, this 30th, day of March, 1927. J. D. MALONEE, Notary Public Take a visit to old Japan tonight, ir. the Musical Comedy presented at che school auditorium by the Music Club. ? DR. A. C. DOWNS O.D. will be at the Patton (Henry) Boarding house Murphy, N. C., Thurs day, April 7th, 1927. Come, have your eyes examined and glasses fit ted by a licensed Opto metrist. Dependable eye exami nations and quality glass es. PROCRASTINATION ? In many initancei causes grief sorrow and remorse. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? Suppose your wife and children were oat for a ride sod the car skidded off the road into a ditch and turned over. Suppose one of your children was penned under the car and could not be released until helpi came. Suppoee the gasoline tank or pipe line would spring a leak and catch on fire ? What would it be worth to your wife if she could grasp the handy little Fyr-Fyter and snuff out the fire in an instant f Ask yourself this question ? Would insurance save your child from a horrible death? See J. W. AXLEY Represent! b| THE FYR-FYTER COMPANY Dayton, Ohio Approval extinguishers of all types for Your Car ? Your Business ? Your Homo PHONE 73 MURPHY, N. C.
The Cherokee Scout (Murphy, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
April 1, 1927, edition 1
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