The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-01-27
FOR BETTER ROADS.
The Meeting in Columbia Was Well
Attended Last Week.
SENATOR LATIMER's ADDRESS,

In Which He Explained His Plan of
Working Up Federal Appro-
priation tor the Purpose
ofBetter Roads.
The Good Roads Convention met III
Columbia or TueSGa;, l9th instant,
aud was called to order by President
F. H. Hyatt. After prayer by Rev.
N. [. Carlisl~, the roll was called, and
it was found that thirty counties were
represented. The address Of welcome
was then delivered by Gov. Hayward,
vito declared that the two most i'm
portanu questions before the people
now are improving the highways and
bringing immigration into the State.
Gov. Ueyward was present When this
organization was formed and be has
attended every meeting since. He
has seen the good accomplished by the
movement. He is glad that this
meeting is held while the legislature
is in session. The supervisors know
from experience what is needed and
the association can suggest to the
legislature what is needed. The roads.
must be improved and must be i'm
proved with the use Of money. He
believes that wise legislation will be
enacted at this session and he pledged
his support to every measure ano
any movement Of the proper kind.
He had not attended as many good
roads meetings in the summer as be
had wished for the duties of his office
had not permitted it. The following
account of the proceedings is from
The State:
Senator Latimer was then present
ed by Mr.. Hyatt who said that the
senator had broken Two important en-
gagements in the north in order TO
make this appointment.
TIE HERITAGE OF BAD ROADS.
In explaining his interest IN the
improved roads movement Mr.. Latl-
mer said that no question is more i'm
portant, and none more neglected.
The system Cf road making here IS
handed down from Great Britain,
where the roads were poor until the
government took up the matter OF
road building. Ali history shows that
good roads are built By the govern
ment. individuals cannot doit: rura!
communities cannot do it for they feel
too keenly the burden Of taxation.
II ever we better cur conditions, 1t
will be by the aid Of the federal gov
ernment.
Under the proposed law it will be
necessary for the people whose inter
ests are affected to raise one-half be-
fore the government will help. 1t
costs 25 cents per mile for every ton
hauled over the dirt roads. II the
cost of transportation is doubled, the
consumer pays that increased cost.
The government is asked to make an
appropriation which viii help every
citizen. He then suggested three
WAYS in whica the farmers can raise
half the money in order to get the
federal appropriation, by direct taxa
tion, by comic utation tax and issuing
bonds.
TIE TAX OF BAD ROADS.
He then endeavored to show that
the farmer who pays $50 additional
taxes to secure good roads will get
back $50 a year in the saving OF time
and cost of transportation. 1t viii
give employment to negroes 10 tue
summer and will increase the value OF
a farm SIS 40 acre to have Fnacao-
am road through it. This would take
money out Of the federal treasury ano
will give it circulation in the rural
districts.
1t will improve the rural conditions
and will keep the young men and
Young women in the country and Will
help even sch )olS and churches. But
it is useless 10 multiply examples OF
GOOD effects which would result.
What is needed is practica! way to
get at paying for these roads. Jefer-
son himself r. commended federal ap-
propriationS tor good roads. Mr.. Lat
inner suggested that there be direct
tax, the revenue to be obtained to be
doubled by an equivalent from the
federal treasury.
The farmers will be required to
maintain the highways and to give
the rights ef way. This will el!ml-
nate all cues lion Of eminent domain
and federal jurisdiction. The city OF
New York pays taxes on more morey
than any three southern States com
hined. and the pro rata which would
be paid into this State from federal
road fund would be greater than the
amount paid 10, for New York uses So
much imported material that her pro
rata tax is heavy.
ALL GOES TO NATIONAL BANKS.
Mir, Latimer declared that While
there is $500. 900, 900 lying idle in the
federal treasury, and millions are be-
ing spent in the colonies and on rivers
and harbors, nothing is done for pub
lie roads. In the next few years
there will be $500, ,0C0,00 more in the
treasury. What is being done with
it? It is being loaned to national
banks at Nc interest, taxing the
masses of the people that few may
become immensely rich. 1t would
prove a blessing to the people to put
it in the rural communities, whereas
it IS welluigh curse now. The cost
OF the canal. if the CANALS ever built,
will be but small part Of: the sur
plus.
He declared that to give this to
oood roads is no more local legislation
than to build dykes on the Mississippi,
to irrigate the arid lands IN the west
s.. 900 900 for good roads in the Phil
.;,oe ap6 other millions for open