The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-03-16

, d its interests Should De t-
I L + red in every possible
If any tax uaon this important in
iustry can be lited without an impair
nent Of govern uHe entail revenues it GER
tainly should bd done, and II contif
lous lines Of im1roved interstate highX
ways. as alleged will reduce the "un&
tax" and the cost Of transportation OF
farm products from the farm 10 the
market one-half or one-third, then
surely such improved roads ought to
be given the agricultural interest With
out argument or delay.
We have no fault to find with vast
appropriations for pensions, irrigati9Ms
schemes, waterways and railrYaasTbut
it is crying shame that agriculture,
the monarch industry, has scarcely
been noticed, and when it demands Of
the National Government what the in
dividual communities are hot able to
give-continuous lines of improved
highways-its request Should be an
swered by large appropriations for
such continuous lines Of improved in
terstate roads.
This Nation claims to lead in every
thing, and I think it does, for we have
the biggest rivers, the biggest trusts
and the poorest roads on earth.
Surely the National Government
should always do those things that
make for the National welfare, and
how could the National welfare be bet
ter promoted than by the National aid
for continuous lines Of improved inter-
state highways? =
By such highways not only will trahs-
portation Of farm products be greatly
facilitated, but such roads will make
for a better education, more social and
religious privileges, and in every way
tend to elevate the character Of our
rural population, on whom we, as q
Nation, so largely depend. ~
How absurd it seems when We are
told that the National Government can
spend $25O,OOO, 900 to build one canal
in Panama, and New York State an
other $10O,OOO,0O for canal purposes,
but that no money can be Appropriated
to aid the great indus.ry-agriculture-
upon which the prosperity Of the en-
tire country and these special interests
rests!
Were 1t not for the agricultural in>>
terests, canals, rivers, harbors and rail-
roads would be practically useless, for
without the products of agriculture
there would be little or nothing for
them to transport. f
The National Government has ex-
pended $400.0O0,O00 in improving
waterways, while in capital and inter-
est it has aided railways to the extent
of S13S, ,OO0, 900, and in addition to en-
courage railroad building, has given
196, ,OOOO, 600 acres Of the public la1a,
making grand total value given for
these objects of not less than $780,
600, 900, besides appropriating for irri-
CATION schemes that the desert may
blossom as the rose.
All these appropriations were made
from the peoples money. We hnd no
fault because such appropriations have
been made, for We approve OF them
all, but we do find fault because the
common road, the most important FAC
tor among them all, which makes for
National prosperity, has been utterly
neglected.
Now abideth waterways, railways
and highways, but the greatest OF
these is highways.
Some would-be bright minds assume
to say that Congress has not the powE
to authorize outlays for road improve
ment, because the Constitution does
not allow such appropriations. ~
In answer to that statement all we
have to say is that gohTess>aQa the
Constitution were created by the psoNe
and for the people, and that both CON-
gress and the Constitution are simply
instruments to do the work and bidding
of the people.
All the money held or received by.
the National Government is the peo-
Piles money, and do we not insist tnat
a man shall do what lie wills with his
own when free from membranes?
Has the great sovereign people less
rights than the Individual?
There are some timid pessimists who
saw the National Government is not
able to undertake this grand and neces-
sary work Of road improvement.
History tells US that Moses sent spies
to spy out the promised land, and be-
cause the people listened to the advice
of timid and heartless leaders, they
were doomed to suffer the privations,
hardships and wanderings OF the desert
for forty long years.
But as the brave, farseeing Joshua
and Caleb affirmed that they were then
able to 90 forward and possess the
land promised to them and their
fathers, land flowing with milk and
honey, so we affirm that our great
Government, with the granary of the
world in its possession, and with
wealth Of the ages in It's grasp, is now
fully capable Of inaugurating meas
ures and providing the necessary money
to aid the different communities in
such q manner that continuous lines
of improved interstate highways may
be constructed and that it should be
done at once, thereby saving the peo-
pie from longer remaining in this VIII
,,orno,, +b;S sIouob of dornoud fhia