The Marshall republican., 1909-05-14
Country Life
Commission
Says Farme,s are Unanimous
in Demand for Better
Roads.

in Demand for Better
Roads.
The report Of the County Life
Commission appointed by the Pres.
ident of the United States to con.
slider the condition Of the farmer,
and recommend remedies for ex-
listing deficiencies in country life
was submitted to Congress on Feb
ruary eth, 1909, together with a mes
sage from the President. While the
Commission purposely avoided en-
dorsing any particular bill now be-
fore Congress-, il does make certain
specific recommendations. On the
subject Of highway improvement
the Commission makes the follow
ing statement and suggestions:
"The demand for good highways
is general among the farmers OF
the entire United States. Educa-
ton and good roads are the two
needs most frequently mentioned
in the hearings. Highways that
are disable at all times of the year
are now imperative, not only for
the marketing of produce, hut for
the elevation OF the social and in
~tellectual status of the open coun-
try and the improvement of health
by insuring better medical and sur
gical attendance.
"The advantage are SO we'll un-
derstood that arguments for bet
ter roads r not necessary here.
Our respondents r now concern
| ed largely with the methods OF or
ganizing and financing the work.
| With only unimportant exceptions
the farmers Who have expressed
| themselves to us on this question
| consider the Federal Government
is fairly under obligation to aid in
| the work.
"We hold that the development
of a fully ~serviceable highway sys
tenn is "a matter OF national con-
Germ, coordinate with the develops
ment of waterways and the conser-
walton of our native II
is absolutely essential to our intern
al development. The first thing
necessary is to provide expert su-
pervision and direction and to d:
velop a rational plan. All the
work should be cooperative be-
tween the Federal Government and
the States. The question of Fed
eral appropriation for highway
work in the States may well be
held in allegiance until a national
service is provide d and Vested.
We suggest that the United States
Government establish a highway
engineering service, or e~quivalent
organ 4ation, to be at the call o.
the States in working out efiec-
tN', AMI economical highway sys-
tens"
The report and recommends
tons Of the Commission are high
ly valuable, as it's careful investi-
Ngation, including personal visits
to ali sec fcns of the country, AMI
corresEnr iencc with 55O $1,000 resi-.
dehts Of the country districts as
to the most PRESSING needs OF the
farmers fol, the Improvement Of
their condition, shows that pub
lic sentiment is unanimous in fay
I or OF better roads as a practical
means OF supplying existing deii-
ciencies in country life.
In his message to Congress ac-
companying the Commission,s e
port the President summarizes
the conclusion arrived at by the
Commission and states that as a
result Fits Investigations the fol
! lowing, three great general and
immediate needs OF country life
stand out:
First, effective cooperation
among farmers, to put them on a
level with the organized interests
with which they do business.
second, a new kind OF schools
in the country, which shall teach
the children as much outdoors as
indoors and perhaps more, so that
they will prepare for country lie
and not as at present, mainly for
life in town.
Third, better means OF com-
munication, including good roads
and a parcels post, which the conn
try people are everywhere, and
rightly, unanimous in demanding
The Satisfaction OF the first two
OF these needs win be greatly faci-