- Transcription
March sixteenth
Nineteen Sixteen
Mr. Geo. F. Watson,
Chairman Board of County Commissioners,
Rutherfordton, N.C.
My dear Mr. Watson:
I have been informed that the Board of Commissioners of Rutherford County have refused to appoint a member of the Hickory Nut Gap Road Commission as provided by Chapter 539 of the Local Public Laws of 1913.
Will you do me the kindness to inform me what influenced the Board of Commissioners to take this position.
The Act providing for the building of this road was strongly supported and I believe introduced by the Representative from Rutherford County. It was thoroughly understood that the act provided for the maintenance of the road by the counties of Buncombe, Henderson and Rutherford. So far as I know there has never been any complaint or objection to this provision. Its justice is apparent. While the road is situated in Henderson County, the counties of Buncombe and Rutherford derive as much or more benefit from it than does the county of Henderson.
The passage of this act appropriating convicts to construct this road was enthusiastically received by the people of Rutherford County. You remember that we had a large, enthusiastic and harmonius meeting at Bat Cave sometime during the month of March or April, 1913. At this meeting there were many prominent citizens from Rutherford as well as from Haywood and Buncombe and all were unanimous in the expression of gratification at the passage of the act and the prospect of obtaining the road. I am sure that it was understood at this meeting that each of the three counties should contribute equally toward the maintenance of the road.
When the act was passed it was stated that the road could be built in six months. After going over it I saw what a difficult undertaking it was. The convicts were sent there as soon as they were available and were kept continuously on that work from the latter part of the summer of the fall of 1913, until the fifteenth of February, 1916. Dr. Fletcher in a meeting at Asheville, held in the early part of June, speaking for those interested in the enterprise, stated that the convicts would not be asked for longer than the first of February. Dr. Fletcher has done more towards securing this highway than any other one person. The road cost the state a large amount of money, alowing the same pay for the convicts that the State was receiving from the Hardaway Construction Company. The expense and difficulties of building it appeared impossible except for the work of the State convicts.
The road will be of immense benefit to the small section of Haywood County through which it passes, to the whole of Rutherford county and a general benefit to Buncombe County. It completes a link in a great State Highway that now passes through the county of Rutherford.
The State was induced to appropriate convicts and patriotic citizens were induced to contribute their money on the understanding that the county of Rutherford would do its part toward the maintenance of this road. That understanding was solemnly enacted into a law advocated by the Representative of Rutherford county. The people of your county are now enjoying the benefits and will continue to enjoy the benefits of this magnificent highway. I feel sure that you and your board, acting for the people of Rutherford, have no inclination to repudiate the obligation after securing the consideration. I feel sure, too, that the people of Rutherford would not willingly enjoy the benefits of this road without co-operating in keeping it up according to the law of the State which they sanctioned at the time without a dissenting voice. There must be some misunderstanding about this thing. Some view that I do not have.
I earnestly hope that the commissioner from Rutherford will be appointed by your Board in accordance with the mandate of the Legislature; that your county will co-operate willingly for the support of this fine improvement in the benefits of which it participates.
Yours sincerely,
