The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-04-02


correspondence resulting from the
widespread interest in his road bill.
In response to a request for an inter
view he said:
":Weli, am pretty busy, but never
get too busy to say something on the
road question. Still, it doesn't appear
to be necessary For ne to say much re-
garding my bill, as the people and
press Of the country ali seem to be
talking for it. Before introducing the
measure l never dreamed that il would
meet with such universal favor. 1t is
supported rct merely hy the rural ard
agricultural press, but by the great
daily papers. whose circulation and
support is found almost entirely in the
cities. Look at this, for instance, from
an editorial in the Atlanta Constitution,
the leading Democratic daily of the
South and one whose conservatism is
well known:
".While national Improvement OF
public highways may seem something
Of a departure, it is. nevertheless. but
a return to one Of the early policies OF
the Federal Government. Before the
railroad was thought of the infant re-
public laid out and improved roads be-
tween important commercial centres,
Congress voting appropriations and
regulati ting the plan Of work. After
the railroad came there was no fur
ther aid Of the kind for wagon roads,
but Uncle Sam did not hesitate to help
build 8 transcontinental railroad. 1t
will not be forgotten, in this connec-
tion. that the Government expended
million or more in building the Chesa-
peake and Ohio Canal.
cit is a lamentable fact that road
building as conducted by the average
local supervisor is about as effective
and lasting as water poured in a sieve.
The first prolonged rain puts the way
farer back into the same old slough OF
despond. hub deep, and in the spring
the taxpayer proceeds as before. Ma
cadaT and other. permanent roads are
enormously expensive, though it is true
that the average country township,
where road working is respectfully
prosecuted in The course of years pays
m6re for its treacherous dirt roads
than it would have paid for a service
able pike. However. the same argu-
ment will apply to the luckless individ-
ual who has to pay for necessity ON
the instaIlment plan. The rub Is In
getting together the funds to have done
with the whole business at once.
.,'The Federal Department of Agri-
culture has already done good work
along the lire of road improvement.
though mainly in an instructive way.
1t has constructed sample pieces OF
good roads for the ediflcation Of back
ward communities. and the good
roads train" sent into the South last
year was valuable start Of the edu-
cat;oRSl propaganda. Representative
Brownlow now proposes to extend the
idea and clothe the department with
some real authority in the premises.
The Government is not only to instruct,
but 10 foot half Of the bills, the State.'
corey or individuals 20 pay the other
half. For purposes OF construction the
bill carries with it an appropriation OF
$es. coo. 900. of which no State shall re-
-ceiye in and Of construction a greater
proportion than its population bears to
the total population Of the United
States. ,fie public interests seem to
-,roor,,orf1nl 0nR
p-ofis.on of the measure carefully
t,,a1ght out,
""rra Rrowniow bill has much to
commend it, ard it stands fer sound.
worthy principle of Government. de-
s:Saed 20 benefit not a class, but the
wAe!e people The good roads asita-
tio9 IS beginning to show results
"0f course" resumed Colonel Brown
low. "she South is especially interested
in my bill because OF its retarded de-
veIoprert along the line OF highway
improvement. Nevertheless, the idea
o. national aid seems to J." equally
popular in other sections. Here is all
editorial from leading Republican Or
gan CT the BucSeye State. the C.ere-
land LaaIe- In Chic. it should be re-
membered, great progress has been
made in the building OF improved
roads. The Leader says:
.''It is nothing new to have efforts
made in Congress to interest the Fed
eral Government in the improvement
and construction of roads in various
parts Of the country. That is natur-
ally an old story. in land deficient as
the United States is in we'll made high
ways. But It is worthy OF note that
tie pressure in the direction OF nation
al aid in road building is becoming
stronger from year to year.
: = This change will grow more i'm
purtGDt with the filing up OF the coun-
try, especially with the increase IN the
number OF city people who maintain
rural or suburban homes. The neceS-
sity uf calling upon greater resources
thar those Of the strictly agricultural