The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-07-11
GOOD ROADS IN TENNESSEE.
Colonel J. B. Killebrew'S Address Before
the Convention at Jackson.

Colonel J. B. Killebrew'S Address Before
the Convention at Jackson.
Following is an extract from all adj
dress delivered by Colonel J. b. kille-
drew before the State Good Roads
Convention, at Jacksonville, on
June 81
Gentlemen of the Good Roads Con-
ventiOn: Never has there been a
more important convention held in
the State of Tennessee than this. 1t
marks the beginning, hope, of new
and brighter era. 1t is 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 high civili-
zation than good roads. They are
the local arteries of traffic, reaching
out to fountain heads and gathering
the rivulets of trade, which swell the
great streams and oceans of COM
merce, that give employment to mil
lions of people, with reverting profit
to the producers. The heaviest bur-
den the farmers have to endure is
that of transportation of their prod
ucts over bad roads. Prosperous
communities are often the result
of good roads. And in turn good
roads are an index to the prosperity
and enlightenment of the community.
Gentlemen of the convention, this is
broad in its scope, so important in its
consequences, that | scarcely know
where to begin. | shall not discuss
before you the necessity of good
roads, for every man in this conven-
ton knows their value. 1t is esti-
mated by competent publicists that
$500, 000,000 is expended annually by
the farmers of the United States in
moving $4,000. 200 worth OF pro-
duce over bad roads to railway sta
tions and to markets. This is a tax
of "a cents on every dollars worth of
produce that goes to market. 1t is
further estimated that at least one
half of this may be saved by the use
OF good roads, or, say, $500, 900, 900,
annually. Looked at from this point
OF view, it is question of more vital
Importance to the people of the state
than any other now entering into the
policies of the two great parties.
How shall we secure good roads?
How shall we save the immense sum
now being worse than wasted? Mani
testify il will require great outlay,
but the outlay will not be greater
than We are now paying without re-
ceiving any benefits whatever. Take
the amount we now pay by reason of
bad roads and apply it to the build
ing OF good ones, and we will have an
Investment that will yield greater
returns to the many than any other
that can be made. This improve
ment of our roads ought to be done by
the states, by the counties, by the
districts, by individuals, by the gen
eral government, or by the united
action of several or all of these agen-
cies. If this work is to be done by
appropriations OF the legislature,
these appropriation must be made
on liberal scale. Our own state APP
propriates nothing directly for this
purpose, because prohibited by the
constitution, but authorizes the coun-
ties to do so. Some counties levy
few cents on the hundred dollars,
about enough to pay the salaries of
the officers intrusted with the man
agement OF the fund. A certain num-
Der OF days work is also levied. run
ming from five to eight. and those
upon whom this tax of labor is levied
usually have the least interest in the
betterment of the roads, and work in
a perfunctory manner so as to dis
charge the obligation as easily as
possible. Districts may not levy
tax under the constitution of the
state of Tennessee. however much
they may desire to do so. Under the
operation of our road laws there is
enough waste of time and money to
build section of good roads every
year, if it was all leyied in money and
its expenditure properly directed by
competent road builders. But it may
be set down as certain that we will
never get good roads under our state
laws unless these laws provide for a
tax by the state, by the counties, by
districts, and Oh the individuals
mostly benefited by the construction
of the roads.