American Roads.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7412, 30 September 1902, Page 4

American Roads.

Befora the Civil War in tho United States the best roada in tho South wero known as turnpike 3or plank roads. They wero built of planks about 26ft wide, laid Hat across the mad, and fastened at the ends to sleepers or sttingers. Kain and sun soon mado tho planks to curl, twist, and finally to rot. Very few of these roads remain, though while they were r.ew they wero both beautiful and satisfactory. Had the Southern people instituted a good system of roads prior to 18G0, it is is quite possible the war would never have iaken place, for free communication and consequent enlightmont would bavo made tbo North and South moro nearly homogeneous, and so have averted the

disagret-ments reEpocting secession and slavery. About fifteen years d."O there was a general revival of interest >a tho buildiug of country road 3in the South, and now many communities havo road systems of which they are justly proud. Another sign is the erection of cotton mills. Oharolette, a city of 30,000 people, is the chief town of Mccklonherg County, in North Carolina. Within a radius of 100 mi'e3 around tho city tbcre arc 800 cotton factories, comprising more than half of the spindles aid looms at work in the South. In 1890 tbe authorities in Meckleuberg began to uso convict labor in making roads. Tin.-.;... laborers cost the county twcntv-fivo per cent per head by day, including food, lodging, clothing, and oversight. They make macadamised road? at the rate of about tc-n miles per hour, which radiate in all directions from Ohavolette and extend about ten to fifteen miles to the county boundary.