The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1901-06-28
WHAT GOOD ROADS MEAN.

Address Of Col. J. B. Killebrew Be.
fore the Good Roads Convention,
Jackson. Tenn, June 81.
Following is the text of the ad
dress delivered by Col. j. B. Kill
Hebrew before the State Good
Roads Convention at jackson on
Friday last:
Gentlemen of the Good Roads
Convention-Never has there been
a more important convention held
in the State of Tennessee than this.
1t marks the beginning, | nope, of
a new and brighter era. It is a
movement to increase the profits of
the farmers, the railroads and the
tradesmen and to multiply many
fold the comforts and pleasures of
every citizen. There is no better
evidence of a higher civilization
than good roads. They are the
local arteries of traffic reaching
out to fountain heads and gather
ing the rivulets of trade, which
swells the great streams and oceans
of commerce, that gives employ
ment to millions of people, with a
reverting profit to the producers.
The heaviest burden the farmers
have to endure is that of transpor-
tation of their products over bad
roads. Prosperous communities
are often the result of good roads,
and in turn good roads are an in
dex to the prosperity and enlight-
enment of community.
Gentlemen of the convention,
this question is SO broad in its
scope, SO important in It's conse-
quence, that | scarcely know where
to begin. shall not discuss before
you the necessity Of good'roads for
every man in this convention
knows their value. 1t is estimated
by competent publicists that $780,
100000 are expended annually by
the farmers of the United States in
moving so, 5000 worth of pro-
duce over bad roads to railway sta
tions and to markets. This is a tax
of twenty-four cents on every dol
lars worth Of produce that goes
to market. It is further estimated
that at least one half of this may
be saved by the use of good roads,
Or say about $300,000 900 annual
y. Looked at from this point of
view, it is a question of more vital
to the people of the
State than any other now entering
nto the policies of the two great
parties.
ECONOMY OF GOOD ROADS.
How shall we secure good roads? |
low shall we save the immense
um now being worse than wasted9
danifestly it will require great
utlay, but the outlay will not be
.reater than we are now paying
Without receiving any benefit
1hatever. Take the amount
7e now pay by reason of bad roads
nd apply it to the building of
ood ones and we will have an in
estment that will yield greater re-
arms to the many than any other
hat can be made. The improve
rent of our roads ought tc be
one by the States, by the coun-
les, by the districts, by individ-
ais, by the general government
/ by the united action of several
r all of these agencies. If this
'ork is to be done by appropria-
ons of the Legislature, these ap-
must be made on a
beraI scale. Our own State ap-
nothing directly for
lis purpose, because prohibited
V the Constitution, but author
.es counties to do so. Some
ounties levy few cents on the
undred dollars, about enough to |
ay the salaries of the officers in
.usted with the management of
le fund. A certain number of
avs work is also levied, running
rom five to eight, and those upon
hon this tax of labor is levied
sually have the least interest in
le betterment of the roads and
-ork in perfunctory manner so
) to discharge as easily as possi-
le the obligation. Districts may
OF levy a tax under the Constitu-
on Of the State of Tennessee,
over much they may desire to do
). Under the operation of our
Dad laws there is enough waste of