The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-05-08
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GEN. MILES PLAN.
EATERWAYsH HAVE BEEN MADE.

Tells Why the Farmer is
Entitled TO Good Public
Highways. -
The international. Good Roads
Convention met in St. Louis on Mon,
day of last week. Senator Latimer of
this State addressed the convention
on the first day. Tie next day Gen.
Nelson a. Miles, who Is president OF
National Highway commission, made
an address on Military Roads and
National Aid" He said, in part:
Our government has expended $780,
600 for the improvement Of harbors
and waterways and now the attention
of the public is being called to our
postal roads and avenues OF communi-
cation that are most useful and i'm
portant tuall our people.
If such expenditures Of the ma
tidnal treasure have been made in the
past for the development Of railroads
and waterways, is it not now most
appropriate time that the improve
ment of our roads should receive ma
tional attention and governmental
aid?n
Ex-Governor Hogg Of Texas pointed
out the necessity for good roads,
which, he believed could be secured
only through the aid Of the national
government. He spoke OF the insular
policy Of the government and said IL
some Of the money that is being squan-
dered In The Philippines could be used
here IN tile improvements Of highways,
our roads would be in far better con
dition.
BRYAN RECEIVES AN OVATION.
Wm. j. Bryan spoke at the after
noon session, receiving an ovation.
He said, in part: '.The expenditure
of money for the permanent improve
| ment Of the common roads can be de-
Tended, first as matter Of justice to
the people who live in the country;
second, as a matter of advantage to
the people who do not live in the
country, and third, on the ground
that the welfare Of the nation de-
mands. that the comforts of country
life shall, as far as possible, keep
pace with the comforts Of city life.
1t Is a we'll known fact, or a fact
easily asccrtained, that the people in
the country while paying their full
share of county, State and federal
taxes, receive as rule only the gen
eral benefits Of government, while the
people Of the cities have in addition to-
the protection afforded by the govern;
ment, the advantage arising from the
expenditure Of public moneys; in their
midst. 81. i..sss ii...s:S3s.s s. !:
The improvement Of the country
roads can be justified also on the
ground that the farmer, the first and
most important Of the producers OF
wealth, ought to be in position to
hold his crop and market it at the
most favorable opportunity, whereas
at present he is virtually under COM
pulsion to sell it as soon as it is ma
tured because the roads may become
impossible any time during the fall,
winter or spring. Instead Of being
his own warehouseman, the farmer Is
compelled to employ middlemen and
share with them che profit upon his
labor. The farmer has right to in
sist upon roads that will enable him
to go to town, to church, to the school
house and to the homes Of his neigh
bors, as occasion may require, and
with the extension of rural delivery
he has an additional need for good
roads in order that he may be kept in
communication with the outside
worl Id"
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT SPEARS.
Immediately upon the arrival Of
President Roosevelt in st. Louis on
Wednesday he was driven to the Good
Road Convention. The military com
panieS and a platoon Of police had been
waiting two blocks away, and as soon
as the line Of carriages apparel a
slower march was taken up to cover
the three miles to Odeon hall. Pco-
pie were congregating along the streets
and wildly chcered as the president
passed. He continually doffed his
hat In Acknowledgements. The hall
was packed with II crowd, which had
been waiting patiently for hours.
The president spoke Of good roads In
tones which showed, as we'll as his
words, that he was thoroughly In
sympathy with the object Of the as
sociations. Roads," he declared,
tell the greatness Of a nation. The
influence OF the nations which have
not been road builders has been
cvancsccnt. Rome, the most power
ful of the older civilizations, left her
impress Oh literature and speech; she
changed the boundaries Of nations,
but palmer than anything else left to
remind us OF the Roman civilization
are the Roman roads," At this point
in the Presidents speech the crowd
rose and cheered, waving handker-
chiefs and hats. The president de-
clared that good roads probably were
the greatest agency for regulating
the flow from the country to the city
OF young men and young women.