The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1902-01-07

mentum from the Coming Conven-
tlon in Charleston
To the Editor of the News and Cou-
. rier:
I have read with much interest a
recent article in your paper from DIR.
D. A. j. Bell, of Parksville, concern
ing the Good Roads Convention held
in Greenville and Iwould like to add
some words of my own.
regard the convention held in
Greenvine as having been in many
respects the most important held in
this State within recent years. 1t
was important, not so much in point
of immediate visible results, but on
account of its aims and purposes and
the ultimate good that will be &C.
complished, and on account OF the
representative class of men who were
in attendance The Importance, the
necessity, of good roads cannot be
over er-estimated by the people of the
State, and it is hopeful and encour-
aging to see such an awakened and
widespread interest being taken IN
the subject. It is very gratifying
to see at Greenville such men
as Gen. M. G. Butter, the Hon. A.
7. smythe, of Charleston; Mr.. F. q.
Hyatt, of Columbis; Ex. Governor
Mauldin and Solicitor Ansel, OF
Gresnville; the Hon D. G. Heyward,
of Walterboro; Congressman A. Q.
Latimer, and many county super
visors and municipal officers from
different parts of the state-men OF
all classes of political opinions and
of all walks or life-met together for
a common purpose. I say it was an
encouraging sign, and great and last
ing good is bound to come out Of it.
think one of the most important
actions Of the Convention was the
adoption of the resolution asking our
Senators and Representatives in Con-
gress to work for Federal appropria-
tions for the improvement Of public
highways on the same plan that ap-
propriations are now made for the
improvement Of rivers and harbors.
It cannot be denied that good pub
lie highways are as necessary to the
welfare and growth of the country as
improved rivers and harbors, and
that vastly greater number OF the
people will be benefited thereby.
It may be argued by some that it
would be too great an undertaking
for the Government to 60 into the
business of improving the public
roads. Here are some facts that
will completely answer this objec-
ton: When it was first proposed,
some ten or fifteen years ago, to give
the people of the country free mail
delivery, such as enjoyed by the peo-
pie of the cities the idea was laughed
to scorn. It was declared that it
would bankrupt the Government.
Yet the rural mail delivery system is
going into operation all over the
country and wherever it has been
tried it has been found to work sue
cessfully. There is but slight in
crease in the cost over the old sys-
tenn of having many country post
Offices with the star route mail rider,
and in some cases the cost is even
less and the service is vastly improv-
ed. In Anderson County there are
now something like twenty daily
rural mail routes. There is no farm
or in the county who lives further
than TWO miles from daily delivery
route and be can have his mail de-
livered wherever he places his box,
while the majority Of the farmers
have their mail delivered every day
at their doors. I have not the ex-
act figures at hand, but I am told
that the system lis practically self
sustaining and that the free delivery
system, instead of beng Durden'
is really if anything over the old
method.
I do not believe that Federal ap-
preparations for public road improve
ments will prove at all burdensome,
but that it will be the Wisest posi-
-, ~ To,15;