Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-24
RURAL ROUTE IMPROVEMENT
BANKHEAD ARGUES FOR BET
TER ROADS.
Would Have Nation Spend Half Mil
lion, if Local People Spend
49, Same Sum.

1.-THE time has arrived when Congress
must meet the great question of national
road improvement fairly and squarely
and give it that thoughtful and serious
consideration it deserves declared Sem
ator Bankhead of Alabama in a speech
in the Senate this afternoon. He spoke
in favor of the adoption of his amend
ment to the post Office appropriation bill
for the expenditure of $4,000 for the
improvement of rural free delivery roads.
provided the various states or counties
spend as much as the nationa! govern
ment for this purpose in each instance.
Mr.. Bankhead is a member of the COM
mittees on post Offices and post roads
and of agriculture and forestry. both OF
which have to do with the subject of
roads.
Importance of Transportation.
According to Mr.. Bankhead the trans
portation and distribution of products is
of more Importance than the production
itself. He declared that ''it is the surplus
which we sell that makes us richer. adds
to the bank account and cancels the
mortgage"
THE farmers are being aroused" he
went on. land already the National
Grange. with membership of more than
million farmers. is calling upon for
action In this matter. Another great or
ganization. the Farmers Educational and
Cooperative Union of America. is urging
legislation in the same direction
He said that the farmers constitute one
third of the population of this country
and are 81 per cent native born.
no Nf
wherever tried" he concluded. has been
to largely increase the value of farm
land. for the home seeker prefers to To-
cate where improved roads provide its
many advantages. Indeed. I have been
assured that lands have even doubled and
quadrupled in value along and adjacent
to improved dirt roads.
Land Awaiting Tillage.
I'VE hear a great deal being said about
! the destruction of our timber supply. Mr..
President, 1 do not hesitate to say that,
in my opinion. there is sufficient timber.
composed of small tracts. belonging to
farmers and other landowners. in this
country today. and which is now con-
sidered worthless. because of it's distance
from the railroad. that could be placed
| on the market were the roads sufficiently
| improved. that would supply the timber
ueHhdIiu Ill the CHiteo States lot seventy
| five years. the value of which alone would
| improve the dirt roads of this country.
Il wish to touch upon a question which
l consider of vital Importance 1t is a
| question not so much of dollars and cents.
not of constitutionality. but one which
affects our morality. our character as in
| dividuals and as a nation, and the sta
| bility of our free institutions. Year after
year the human tide flows from the coun-
| try to the city. Don't let us have great
mobs of the unemployed, combining the
scum of Europe with the misled boys
| from our American farms. SO long as
there are millions of acres of land waiting
| to be titled and homes waiting to be built.
Good roads will make farm life attractive:
| they will bring the isolated dweller closer
| to his neighbor. and I feel confident they
will check the movement of our rural pop
ulatOn to the great Cities