The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1903-07-14
GOOD ROADS CAMPAIGN.
Meetings Arranged for townships Strong
and Practical Addresses by Sena-
tor Latimer and Congress
man Aiken Yesterday.

The meeting of the Good Roads AS
soc!ation for Newberry county, which
was held in the court house yesterday
morning, was attended by about three
hundred persons, representing nearly
every section of the county. Strong,
81 practical addresses were delivered by
q Senator A. G. Latimer and Congress-
q man Wyatt Aiken and an active good
q roads campaign was begun. 1t was a
matter of general regret that Presi-
dedt f. H. Hyatt, of the State Good
Roads Association, who had intended
to be present and to deliver an address,
was unable to do so on account of in
disposition.
Practically every man present de-
clared himself in favor of taxation sfor
road improvement At the conclusion
of Senator Latimer's address, that gen.
tleman asked every man in favor of a
mills annual tax for five years to
1,se. With the exception of three OF
four, every man in the court house rose
to his feet. Senator Latimer then
asked that every man opposed rise.
Not one declared himself opposed to
this annual tax of five mills to be levied
for period of five years.
After the addresses had been deliv-
cred some routine business was trans
acted, and meetings were arranged for
4 every township in the county, to be
held within the next two months.
The Association was called to order
by Mr.. R. Il. G. Hunter, vice-president
from No. 8. President Schumpert was
prevented from being present on ac-
count of sickness.
SENATOR LATIMER
was introduced by the chairman. The
senator was received with generous ap
plause. He spoke for about sixty min
utes, making a strong argument in
favor of good roads, to be secured by
taxation with government aid if possi-
BILE, if not by the peoples own efforts.
He urged the people not to divide on
details-to 60 ahead and provide for
the building Of the roads and then let
He outlined his plan Of government aid
the county to bear e-forth, the
State one-fourth, and the government
one-half. "But if the federal govern
ment never gives us cent. if we get
aroused We'll get good roads anyhow"
he declared. And let us act in time, he
said. New York has already voted
$5,000,00 for ten years, and Pennsyl-
vania So, 500, 900 Suppose the national
government appropriates 500, 0,C00,Oc0.
If we lag behind, we get nothing.
Senator Latimer in beginning his re-
marks thanked the people of Newberry
for their support in the last campaign,
and promised to show his appreciation
by earnest work in their behalf. He
had worked for free rural delivery.
That was opposed by many, especially
the farmers, because it was held that
it would bankrupt the government.
But few of us got together and
worked for it and today we have it and
it is self-sustaining, and its advantages
can not be estimated. Along with this
question comes that of public roads.
The government will not give free ru-
raj delivery except that there be roads,
and many sections are denied this great
advantage on account of the condition
Of their roads.
Senator Latimer referred to the
great mud tax" which is draining the
country. IF the appropriation for good
roads is defeated the farmers will de-
feat it, he said, and the farmers are
the ones who will derive the greatest
benefits.
Senator Latin undertook to show
where the farmers would make one
hundred per cent. in three different
ways by the macadamiZng of the pub
lie roads first, by the saving in the
wear and tear Of vehicles and in the
saving of time; second, the increased
value of their land; third, there would
be demand for labor and they could
get months or six weeks hauling af-
ter they have laid by their crops, when
their teams are idle on their hands.
The speaker referred to the condi-
tions in NewEngland, where there are
good roads, contrasting these conditions
with those of the South He held that
the only way to get good school houses,
good churches in the country. the only
way to make the country tolerable, is
to build good roads.
He showed the farmers the advan-
tages which would accrue to them from
the method Of taxation for this pur-
pose. A large per cent. would come
from the towns, and the direct benefit
from this would be reaped by the coun-
try people. Fully fifteen per cent.
would come from the railroads. Every
cent of it will go into the country.
1t is estimated, he said. that $500
100000 were spent last year in hauling
over dirt roads. The total receipts of
all the railroads in the country were