Milford chronicle., 1909-04-23

b Is general among the farmers {
! the United States. Education an
-. good roads are the two needs mos
frequently mentioned in the hear
ings. Highways that are usabl
at all times of the year are now in
perative, not only for the market
ing of produce, but for the elevatio
OF the Social and intellectual statu
of the open country and the imptov
ment of health by insuring bette
medical and surgical attendance.
The advantages are so well TN
derstOOd that arguments for bette
roads are not necessary here. OH
respondents are now largely con
cerned with the methods of organ
izing and financing the work
With only unimpOrtant exception.
the farmers who have expressed
themselves to US on this question
consider the Federal Government
is fairly under obligation to aid in
the work.
I'VE hold that the development
of a fully servicable highway sys-
tenn is a matter of National con-
cern, CO. ordinate with the develop
ment of WATERWAYS and the conser-
vation of our national resources.
1t is absolutely essential to our in
ternal development. The first
thing necessary is to provide ex-
pert supervision and direction, and
to develope a national plan. All
the work should be cooperative
between the Federal Government
and the States. The question of
Federal appropriation for highway
work in the States may we'll be
held in abeyance until a national
service is provided and tested. We
suggest that the United States
Government establish a highway
engineering service, or equivalent
organization, to be at the call of
the States in work ng out effective
and economical highway systems"
The report and recommendations
of the Commissions are highly val
liable, as its careful investigation,
personal visits to all sec
iions of the country, and cores
pOndence with $4,000 residents
of the country districts as to the
most pressing needs of the farmers
for the improvement of their condi- /
tion, shows that public sentiment |
IS unanimous in favor of better |
roads as a practical means of sup |
plying existing deficiencies in coun-
Try life.
In his message to Congress ac.
,ompanying the Commission 5 re-
BORT, the President summarizes the
conclusions arrived at by the Com
and states that as the re-
ult of its Investigations the follow
ng three great general and immed-
ate needs Of country life stand out:
" First, effective cooperation
mong farmers, to put them on
evel with the organized interests
With which they do business.
Second, a new kind of schools
4 the country, which shall teach
he children as much outdoors as
ldoors and perhaps more, so that
hey will prepare for country life,
nd not as at present mainly for
fe in town.
Third, better means of com
including good roads
nd a parcels post, which the
ountry people are everywhere and
ghtly, unanimous in demanding "
The satisfaction of the first two
these needs will be greatly facil-
ated by the adoption of system
improved roads extending thro'
i the farming sections Of the
,untry. Bad roads are the chief
to cooperation among the
rmers, and improved road, will
axe cooperation possible.
The need for a new kind of coun-
y schools cannot be met so long as
II dirt roads, which at certain =
asons are almost impossible, pre-
mt the attendance of the farmers
ildren at centralized schools
mere they could have all the ad-
ntages of a graded school in CON
ction with a high school. Cen
Il schools OF this kind are now
ing established in some sections
the country, where good roads
rmit of the pupils of an entire Il
wnship being transported to them b
lily from their homes, and with +
2 extension of improved roads, b
IS school system would become I
neral. It can thus be seen that q
the three reforms which in the
inion of the President have been k
own to be urgently desirable,
ID improvement is the most inn {
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