Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-12-29

the Initiative in matters pertaining to
the public highways is taken by high
/ ~ trained engineers under the direc-
ton of the national government The
| roads in the United States. they show
| by comparison. are the worst in any
country processing to be civilized
n. j. Bachelor, master of the Ma
tlonal Grange, in recent address said
he believed the establishment of a
complete system of improved public
highways is the most important eco
nomic issue now confronting the
American people. The conservation of
the forests and other natural re-
sources, the improvement of the riv-
ers and harbors. the regulation Of rail-
ways and trusts, all sink into insignia
canoe in comparison with the COOS:
roads question in SO far as, it relates
to the permanent welfare and prosper
| ity OF the nation. Bad roads. he said,
impose an annual burden of at least
SIPS 100000 in marketing the coun-
try's farm produce. This loss he
points out does not fall altogether on
the farmer though he is the heaviest
sufferer. 1t imposes burden of high
er prices on the consumer and affects
the manufacturer and business inter
ests, as the farmers, producing less,
also consume less manufactured goods
than they would under more favorable
conditions. Mr. Bachelor makes
telling argument when he shows what
a large part of the revenue comes from
the farmer, and in return what small
part of the appropriations made by the
government is for the benefit of the
agricultural interests. Mr., Batchelder
goes on to say.
It is truism that the prosperity Of
the whole country depends on the
condition of our agricultural interests,
yet this simple statement of fact is
practically ignored in all discussions
OF how to restore and maintain pros
perity. The dependence of our whole
complicated system of manufacturing,
transportation and trade on the farm
ers of the country has been clearly IL
Illustrated during the past year, when
Wall street, our great railway ssytems,
and to a large extent our manufacture
ing and business interests generally,
have been anxiously following the
crop reports in order to assure them
selves OF more favorable outlook
and thr coming of enat Ia. period cf
manufacturing, transportation, and
business activity. But when it comes
to apprcnria, ing money by congress
how do We find the great basic agri-
cultural industry treated? The sta
tistics of the. expenditures by the ma
tional government during period Of
ten years ending with 1906 show that
out of appropriations of $6,S09,742,-
$1,000, collected, it must be remem-
bered. by taxes paid in large part by
the farmers of the country, only
$47,000,S17 was devoted to furtherinss
the interests of agriculture. That is,
three-quarters OF one per cent of the
total appropriations, for the depart
ment OF our national government that
is concerned with the advancement
and welfare of the most important ill.,
terest of the country
Mr.. Bachelor believes that the
farmers have an opportunity to maks
themselves heard through President
Roosevelts country life commission.
And he is confident that when the
real sentiment OF tho farmers Ct
every section cf til .tpv, as to the
reform which woult. nfer the great
est benefit upon them, is expressed
it will be, Give us. good roads,