North Carolina Gov.
Thomas W. Bickett, who served from 1917-21, led the state through the World War
I years.
Educated at Wake Forest
College, Bickett was an exceptional orator. As governor, he delivered inspirational
and patriotic speeches to lift people’s spirits in support of the war effort. He
also prodded citizens to purchase of Liberty Bonds and War Stamps.
Bickett saluted the 2,338
North Carolinians who died in the war and bragged on the contributions from the
80,000 Tar Heels who had taken part in the conflict.”
Historians generally give
Bickett high marks for his administration’s contributions toward education,
agriculture, telecommunications, public health and improved race relations, He
also helped to modernize the state’s prison system and to implement tax reforms.
“While not committed to
an extensive program of road building, Gov. Bickett laid the groundwork for his
successors by enlarging the duties of the State Highway Commission,” according
to the NCDCR spokesperson. Bickett appointed Frank Page as chair of the
commission in 1919, “a post he held 10 years with distinction.”
Frank Page
Bickett, no doubt, passed
along to Page, a letter that he received in 1919 from the president of North
Carolina’s Good Roads Association, William Archibald McGirt, a Wilmington
business owner.
The association’s members
had adopted a resolution at its annual convention: “Ten Reasons Why North
Carolina Should Have State Highways.” Written more than a century ago, these
words are worth repeating, relishing and remembering.
1: “The present
inadequate system of public roads in North Carolina constitutes our greatest economic
drain. Good roads are an asset, bad roads are a liability.”
2: “The success of the
agricultural, industrial, economic and social life of our state depends largely
upon transportation – railroads and state highways.”
3: “The introduction of
the automobile and motor truck has rapidly changed the character of travel.
State highways are absolutely necessary to meet these changes.”
4: “State highways will
mean improved school facilities, more churches, better farms, quicker
communication, reduction in cost of transportation and generally improved
conditions….”
5: “A complete system of
state highways will carry light into dark places, build up and improve the
morals of our citizens and induce good people to settle in our midst.”
6. “We must look beyond
the county line. State construction and maintenance make for broad vision and
high ideals. The West should be linked with the East, the North with the South;
we should know each other better.”
7: “Highways constructed
and maintained by the state mean ‘equal rights to all, special privileges to
none.’”
8: “Prosperity is headed
our way, and it is absolutely necessary that the state provide a fund for road
construction to be able to take advantage of the (U.S.) government’s offer of
federal aid. Other states are making preparation; North Carolina must do
likewise.”
9: “More and better roads
can be built and properly maintained by the state. Counties and townships will
never provide a complete system. It is up to the state.”
10: “Every individual in
North Carolina will benefit directly or indirectly from a system of public
roads and, therefore, should contribute toward their construction.”
“PROVIDE THE FUND – LEVY
THE TAX – BUILD THE ROADS.”
“Despite this clarion
call for the state to build, build, build, the legislature in 1919 rejected the
‘good roads’ bill,” wrote Bryan Mims of Our State magazine.
Highway commissioner Frank
Page and his team vowed to bring a new bill forward in 1921. They did and lawmakers
approved a $50 million bond issue.
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