Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1904-05-04
PLEA FOR GOOD ROADS
Made by Senator Latlmer 8siere Beacon
Society In Boston.

utCpo vi ESOoo iooNo oSioio ChO DSa-
con Society in Boston Saturday
night has elicited much favorable
comment all over the country. He
said in part:
The subject that has been assigned
to me this evening for discussion is
as old as the government itself. The
improvement of the common roads
of the country engaged the attention
of our ablest statesmen from 1902
to 1882, and during that period about
$14,000,OOO was appropriated for
road purposes. All the great minds
of that period were one in conceding
this question to be of the highest i'm.
portance and of the moSV far-reach-
ing effect in determining tho happi-
ness and prosperity of the american
people. 1t is to-day, as it was then,
question which demands the earn
est consideration of every American
citizen. The mud tax, levied on our
people by the miserable condition of
the common roads, is the highest
and most onerous that we have to
pay. 1t will astonish you to know
that it costs the people of the United
States every year $30O,000,O0O more
TO transport the surplus products of
the farm and the forest to the ship
ping point, than the total cost of
transporting all of the freight, pas
sengers, mail and express over all the
railroads of the United States. In
1869 the railroads received from all
sources little over $700,O00,000.
Every dollar of this revenue was re-
turned to the people in the employ
ment of labor, the use of material, in
taxes to the States, and in interest
on invested capital. The one billion
dollars or more spent in cost of trans
portation over the dirt roads was a
total loss, not one cent being re-
turned to the people in taxes or as
interest on invested capital.
And yet this is only small proper
tion of the loss caused by the poor
condition of our roads. The loss of
surplus product which cannot be put
on the market; the necessity of
maintaining millions of draft animals,
which would otherwise be unneces-
sary; the loss of capital in vehicles =;
the depressed and dissatisfied condi-
tion of our agricultural classes on
account of the hardships and isola-
lion of their lives, and the consequent
falling off of production and the
decrease in values, are all sources of
the loss of millions to the people.
1t is evident that some change in
our method of road improvement
must be adopted. The local COM
munity is not able to build roads
alone. Many of the States are not
able to do 80, and even if they were,
there is a feeling, which, in my
opinion, is justly founded, that it
would be an unequal burden LAID
upon them to be compelled to do it.
Realizing that this burden cannot be
equitably distributed except by
placing it on the people, and that
the most remunerative powers of
raising revenue, originally held by
the States, are now in the Federal
government, it is only by an appro-
priation out Of the Federal treasury
that the improvement of our roads
can be accomplished with justice to
all the people.
The next question. which presents
itself is as to the power of Congress
to make such an appropriation. |
think that the power exists by ex-
press grant in the constitution.
Basing my opinion on the views of
such eminent men as Madison, Mon
roe, Gallatin, Webster, Calhoun,
Clay and Adams, and taking into
consideration the legislative history
of the country, hold that the power
is clearly established.
1t is contended by many who op-
pose this appropriation that it would
bankr! pit yhe Federal treasury. Let
US see if this contention is based
upon sound judgment. During the
last five years we have spent more
than $600,000,000 in the Philippine
Islands $168,00O,000 on rivers and
harbors, and have more than doubled
our appropriation for the army and
navy, and still we have surplus in
the treasury of over $200,000,000.
With the war over in the Philippine
Islands there ought to be from $40,-
100000 to $7O,000,000 annually
above the necessary expenditures
which will go to the surplus, if PROF.
perity continues. An expenditure
Of $50, 100000 annually for road pur-
poses would not be a heavy drain
upon the treasury, but, on the other
hand, as l have shown, would tend
to enrich the people, enabling them
to become larger consumers, and
thereby reimburse the treasury.
There are other considerations
more important than any financial
advantage which would follow the
improvement of the roads. The un.
rest and dissatisfaction of our agri-
cultural classes js attributed in a
large measure to the condition Of our
roads. They are cut off from the
centers of progress. Life on the
farm is unattractive and means
mental and social isolation. The
brain and manhood of the rural com.
munities is seeking opportunities
elsewhere. All the lines of trade
and industry are becoming congested,
and the farms are becoming depleted
and left to the thriftless and unambi-
tious. The mere statement of the
case is sufficient to arouse our deep
est appreciation. Upon that class
of our people depends, in the last
analysis, the happiness and pros
perity of the country. 1t is import
ant, therefore, that something should
be done to revive their interest, en-.
courage their labors, and brighten
their lives. They have asked for
few favors, but have always been the
bulwark of the government in peace