Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-08-18
FOR BETTER ROADS IN WEST
Members of Department Of Agriculture
Take Trip Over Great Northern.
GUESTS OF HILL ON A SPECIAL TRAIN
President of Railroad Says He is Not
Actuated by PhiIanthropic Mo-
tives, but Business Demands
Improved Roadways.
IRON a stan correspondent)

from a stan Correspondent.)
| UNGTON, Aug. 17.-(Special.l IA
spec train left Chicago the other day on
board Of which were Messrs. Dodge, Abbott
and Richardson, agents Of the public road
inquiry division Of the department Of agri-
! culture. These gentlemen are out for the
purpose Of demonstrating that good wagon
roads can be built in any section Of the
| country out Of material Of almost any sort.
Through the courtesy of President J. ].
Hill OF the Great Northern railroad, the
special train was furnished. Mr.. Hill is
the first railroad man in the northwest to
interest himself in this matter. 1t is said
that he watched, with great interest, like
demonstrations of roadmaking in the south
ern states, and that he sought the first op-
portunity to give the people Of the section
in which he is most interested an ocular
| demonstration Of scientific roadmaking.
Mr.. Hill has been known to carry immi-
| grants in the past from St. Paul to Seattle
| at less than half the actual cost OF hand
ling. He did that for the purpose Of build
| ing up the country through which his rail-
| road runs. Now that he has people to popu-
late his territory, Mr.. Hill wants them to
| have roads over which they can haul their
farm products to his stations at any and all
times. He doesn't profess to be sctuated
by philanthropy in placing a special train
at the service of the government road
builders. 1t Is purely business with him.
II the farmers of Minnesota, Dakota, Mon.
tana and Washington can haul two tons
with the same team which can now only
draw one the Great Northern railroad will
benefit to a portion Of the extent that the
owner OF the grain is benefited.
The federal experiments in roadmaking
have had wonderful effects upon the plan
tations of the south. Two or three years
ago a team Of mules seldom hauled more
| than two bales Of cotton to market over
the roads which preceded those now in use.
Today the same mules draw from eight to
ten bales, and they waste less energy than
they formerly expended with a quarter Of
the present load.
1t is not the intention Of the federal gov
ernment to go into road building as a gen.
eral proposition. That is purely a state
function. But the federal demonstrations
in the south and southwest have stimulated
the desire for roadways instead OF ruts, and
reports from every section in which the
federal road train has appeared indicate
| that the first lessons have had widespread
results in awakening the people to the de-
STABILITY OF lettering their highways.
GriEgs May Fall Short.
Judge Griggs Of Georgia, chairman OF the
democratic congressional committee, may
not be able to win enough seats from re-
publicRps to ensure democratic control Of
the house of representatives Of the} Fifty
eighth congress- but he has demonstrated
that he is Just the kind of man to conduct a
political campaign. He is in the prime Of
life and is yet too young to have all the
prejudices of the southern man who had "a
career" before the war. He does not be-
lieve in conducting the fight upon the issues
OF 1S50-60, but is digging out material of
current moment. Personally there is no
more popular man in congress. Vigorous
and able. he is an ideal gentleman Of the
newer southern school. He thinks that the
democratic party should ''let the dead past
bury its dead" and fight upon the issues OF
today. The fundamental differences between
the democratic and republican party Is the
doctrine Of protection and its relation to the
tariff schedule. Mr.. Griggs has stirred up
a great deal Of bother for some manufactur-
ers whom he accuses of selling products to
foreigners at a lower price than the same
articles are sold for In this country. Mr..
Griggs has produced a great deal OF ntera-
ture designed to prove that this is the case.
Perhaps II 1t fails to result in securing the
election OF majority Of the house pledged
to revise the tariff from top to bottom, 1t
may result In sending a few thousand more
Americans to Europe to purchase American
goods to be brought back here, because of
the lower European price.
But whether he succeeds or fails In his
efforts to secure control of the next house
for his party. he has already secured the
friendship of his opponents because of the
clean campaign which he insists shall be
conducted
Gay Season Promised.
People who ought to know say next win
ter will be the gayest season in a society
way the national capital has even known.
The social pace in Washington is set by
the president and his cabinet BY Novem-
Der nearly half a million dollars will have
been spent on the White House. There
have been residents who used the conserva-
tory to grow cueumbers in and one president
kept his saddles In the east wing, but Pres
ident Roosevelt has no such ideas as these.
There are TO be drawing rooms and verandas
and banquet rooms and rooms red, green and
blue where social functions can be given
which will be in keeping with the dignity Of
the executive mansion. The president has
left no room for speculation about the COM
ing White House season. Mr.. Roosevelt
loves work. but he loves play equally as
Nelli ana ne mas enough money 10 lndulge |
his tastes. Mrs. Roosevelt is still young
and Miss Roosevelt is going through an ex-
perience this summer which must give her
that repose and confidence which is required |
from a hostess who must meet the best So
ciety OF the world.
Work is being pushed on the White House
with marvellous rapidity and It is promised
in it's completion before congress convenes
in December. The old White House. in its
arrangement. was a most awkward home in
which to entertain. The architect who has
charge Of undermining the house has con-
stanty borne in mind that 1t should be
adapted for state banquets and dinners, !
large and small. and so constructed that the |
big formal receptions which have been a part
Of every administration could be given with
the greatest ease and dignity.