The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-02-13
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10. 1909.
GOVERNOR FOR GOOD ROADS.


Gov. Swanson's speech before the
Roads Convention this week was an
able and earnest one and We regret
that 10 can NOS be reproduced here in
fnll. IL was an Inspiration to every
man who listened TO it's delivery. of
State aid he said in part:
recommended TO the last General
Assembly OF Virginia that IL should
appropriate out OF the State treas
ury $250.000. In addition so the
amount spent for the operation OF
the coDvict road forces, so be dist.ib-
uted among the ths counties in pro-
portion TO their contribution 90 the
State treasury, conditioned on tho
local authorities furnishing an equal
amount The General Assembly en-
acted this recommendation into law.
Thoughts this bus just and proper
Out OF the large sums Cf money,
which heretofore went into the STATE
treasury, heretofore nothing had
been expended for the betterment OF
our roads. Considering the condi-
tion OF the treasury at that time
thought IL could easily appropriate
this amount for this purpose. l was
satisfied this money given to each
county would at once precipitste In
each county an interest in road i'm
provement. This expectation has
been fully realized. We witness 10
every section OF ,his State an interest
In the betterment of she roads and
steps being taken toward their i'm
provement. | think when she FIRST
OF March comes there will be scarcely
O county in the State which will not
avail itself OF the State aid offered
for the Improvements OF it's roads or
the construction OF bridges where
needed.
Speaking OF the saving resulting
from good roads the Governor said:
IL the farm produce OF the United
States was hauled over good roads
instead OF bad ones, the annual saw
ing TO the farmers would be far In ex-
cess OF two hundred and fifty millions
OF dollars. In addition 30 this the
farmer stands a loss almost equal in
hauling the purchases he makes 60
his farm; also include in this the lose
resulting from the produce he never
sells, bus lets waste on his farm on
account OF the wretched roads Thus
we can make an estimate OF she mud
tax paid each year by the farmers OF
this country. Complaint may be
made OF she various other taxes, but
the highest tax OF she farmers today
In America Is the mud tax collected
when he travels thu wretched roads
When good roads prevent this loss
she great prosperity of she farmer is
assured, and his i,crease OF wealth
almost beyond estimation.
Experience has shown that where
ever roads have been properly con-
ssructed farm values have immedi-
etely Increased. Nearly one-half OF
the land OF Virginia soday is not un-
der cultivation IL good r.sads were
Constructed, this half would as once
be utilized for agricultural pursuits
and sheincreased v,slu. and Increased
production would add greatly TO the
aggregate w-alsh of Sd STATE The
Increased wealth from this source
would In a few years more than paw
the State and couatis- for the ex-
pendiSure al money made The ex-
perience OF Virginia In recent year.
demonstrstAs this. The varied pro-
gressive policies recently inaugural
ed Ia Virginia have been accomplish
60 without any increase of taxation
whatever. These progressive policies
have brought TO this State splendid
Immigration, have opened up new
farms, have made old farms more
productive and valuable, have in
creased she traffic over she railroad
and steamboat lines and from all Of
these improvements, due TO yir-
ginia's progressive policies, has come
an Increased revenue withous any in
crease OF taxation. II these progress
sive policies are carried still further
and a material development is thus
broughs TO the State. she revenues of
the State will further increase and
thus easily pay for the expenditures
incurred.