The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1906-05-23
The aooa Roada Convention.

To EDITOR REGIsTER:-
Two propositions especially ad.
vucated by the National Good
Roads Association. ia National and
State Aid for road purposes and
the employment of Jail and convict
labor in road building. Both pro-
positions are right and the people
should arouse themselves in an
effort to secure such legislation.
The National Government spends
millions OF dollars annually for the
improvement of the rivers and har-
bors and it is right that it ehould.
but Why should not equally as
much money be appropriated by
Congress. at each session, to aid in
building public reads, substantial,
permanent highways that will
beautify the country and enhance
the value of farm lands. increase
production. oheapen the cost of
living. as nothing else will The
farmers of the country pay 70 per
| oct of the taxes to support the Ma
tionaI Government. to pay it's rum
ming expenses. buildit's battleships
and maintain it's army and navy.
What direct benefit do they get2
Alfew packages of garden seeds,
sent by Congressman for campaign
purposes and a few agricultural and
weather reports and volumes of I'M
interesting statistics- Why not
more equal distribution of the peo.
Piles money?
Why should not the state aid in
building and caring for these pub
lilo highways? Our mountains are
being robbed of it's coal, oil and
gas:and our farms of their markets
and pounoe on poor individual who
is unable to market his products on
account of the bad condition of the
roads. In the meantime few are
growing rich, taxable values are
multiplying, but the time will
eventually come when much, if not
all of this will be gone sequent-
ly had We not better demand that
all the taxable wealth of the county.
state and nation be compelled to
pay their proportional part as we'll
as the agricultural interests of this
oountTy, to establish a permanent
and lasting system of public roadp,
before this taxable wealth has been
exhausted?
| Also why should thousand con-
viots in the State Penitentiary be
hired out to enrich few favorite
individual private contractors com.
peting with honest labor, while
hundreds more languish in iails at
the expense of the taxpayers, when
each and every one of them could
be employed advantageously. pro-
fitable and more healthfully, either
in p.opazins material or in hniIding
public roads OF the streets of our
cities.
We complain of railroad rates
and justly 30, but to haul load of
fruit FIVE miles over our roads, as
they are now. detraots more from
their marketable v. lue and SUBJ
tract more from the profits of the
grower than does the freight on
them over the railroad and steam.
ship lines to Liverpool and London.
unless the greatest care is exercised
they are made unfit for market.
The object and purpose of the
Good Roads Convention not only
concerns the merchant, banker,
manufacturer but all taxpayers, es-
pecially the farmers. and should in
every way be encouraged.
It is the duty of every man,
woman and child to attend the
sessions of this Convention snd be
enlightened on the Good Roads
subject. The time has come when
the people of the country as we'll
as the CITY are demanding better
roads and streets, and without the
hearty cooperation of everybody,
nothing can be accomplished 1t
is non. partisan movement and