Hattiesburg daily progress. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 18??-1909, 1903-12-07
GOOD 9
q RO a d S.
General Miles Speaks on Good Roads.

General Miles Speaks on Good Roads.
The recent retirement Of Nelson A.
Miles gives especial interest to his pub
lie utterances. The most important
speech made by the General recently
was one on ''Gocd Roads and National
Greatness" delivered at the time OF
the dedication OF the ST. Louis Expo
sition. Among other things he said:
81 know of no one element of ciyiliZa-
ton in our country that has been more
neglected than the improvement OF
our roads; yet this is the element that
marks the line between barbarisn and
civilization in any country.
THE founders CT our Government
strongly advocated the necessity OF
opening H and improving the means
of internal communication. The i'm
mortal Washington retired from the
pomp and circumstance Of glorious war
to occupy the honorable position OF q
sovereign citizen. and while conduct.
ing the affairs of his plantation was
President Of transportation company.
The author OF the Declaration of In
dependence. the founder of one of our
great universities, and the eminen;
statesman who gave to us this vast
empire west of the Mississippi, was
right when he said, in a letter ad
dressed to Humboldt: It is more re
munerati splendid, and noble for Inc
people TO spend money on canals and
roads that will build and promote
social intercourse and commercial fa.
cilities than to expend it Oh armies aud
navies.' He was again right when he
said. in q letter 10 James Ross: 1 eX-
perience great satisfaction in seeing
my country proceed to facilitate in
Recommendation OF several parts by
opening rivers, canals and roads. How
much more rational is this disposition
of public money than that Of waging
war"
During the past hundred years the
people Of this country have devoted
more capital. industry and enterprise
to tie construction OF great commercial
railways than have the people OF any
other country.
"Our Government las expended more
than $4,000, 0o0 for the Improvement
of our harbors and waterways. If such
expenditures Of the National treasure
have been made in the past for the
development cf railroads ard wafer
ways. is it not now mot appropriate
that the improvement OF our roads
should receive National attention and
Government aid?
amy measure that brings TO the
homes OF the American people the
daily news Of fhe world that gives the
sovereign citizen the ruth concerning
the affairs of his o0n country, that
affords him Q knowledge Of the condi-
tons and necessities Of his oT-n people.
enables him to Discharge his duties OF
citizenship. benefits the entire country
and gives strength and character 10 tie
Nation.
"Thc wealth Of the Nation comes pr
marily from the ground. The factory
and foundry utilize the products of the
soil and mine. As agriculture is our
principal industry. so the great mass of
our rural people are orr main depend
ence, their patriotism, their public
spirit, their welfare must ever be the
salvation ana glory OF our Republic.
Therefore every measure. whether by
the National Government, the State,
county. or municipal authorities. that
can promote their welfare should be
earnestly advocated"