The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-05-04
BN THOMAS j. PENCE.

BN 1t1oNIiS }. pENtI.
Washington, D. G, May III as
eert without fear Of contradiction that
the establishment Of a complete sys-
tenn OF improved public highways is
the most important economic issue
now confronting the American peo-
pie
This was the deliberate Judgment OF
Hon. y. J. Bachelor, Master Of the
National Grange in q speech deliy-
cred in Chicago last fall. The sub
ject Of good roads and good road
building through the aid Of the fed
cral government has attracted the at
tention Of many speakers in Congress
recently. The attitude Of the Ma
tional Grange in the North and the
Farmers Union in the South and
West towards good roads has directed
the attention OF an exceptionally large
number Of the peoples representatives
To- this important subject.
Recently there was q proposal on
the part Of the good roads advocates
10 unite with the advocates Of water
way improvements in supporting q
measure that would be Of advantage
10 both. The "Drys'' thought it would
oe the most natural thing in the world
to form an offensive and defensive al
lance with the Vets" The Dry
party was made up largely of those
< III 1ioIil 1iitGIli dlSlfIctS
which do not boast of water trans
portation. The enthusiasts on the sub
Ject Of river and harbor improvements
are naturally those representatives liv-
ing on the seaboard and along navi-
gable rivers, or those rivers which
with the expenditure Of mOney from
the national treasury might become
n~aVigable.
Waterway People Kick.
To this ingenious proposal of the
good roads people tk- waterway i'm
p~roEelnents advocates demurred. They
said it was a very fine scheme for the
"Drys." hut they could not see any
thing in it for themselves.
We have built up q strong national
sentiment in favor Of the improve
ments Of our water transportation ia
cilities by din Of arduous. persist
ent. and enlightened work through
the past several years. said Represen-
tatlve Jos. r. Ransdel, of Louisiana.
chairman Of the National Rivers and
Iiarbors Congress. The Good Roads
people should do likeUise,' he said.
The statement OF Representative Rams
dell IS absolutely true. No more ag-
eressive. comprehensive and well di-
Tected effort has been made in re-
cent years in furtherance of any sin
gle object Of legislation with the pos
sible exception Of prohibition. \ ma
tIonal body pledged to the support Of
this national program, without regard
to local projects. has been ean
and meets at regular intervals. In
addition to the national gathering Of
the Rivers and Harbors Congress there
have been i~nnurnerable smaller gath
erings to push specific objects, all ref
erancc to which was ruled out Of
the national meeting. Each smaller
gathering however, was q unit in the
broad plan Of general improvements.
Bond Issues for Waterways.
50 successful have been the Rivers
and HarbOrs people that the ACTUALLY
secured o nt1e same day during their
last national convention from the re-
firing president. Col. Roosevelt. and
the incoming executive. President
Taft, statements that they EACH ap-
proved a bond issue to carry on this
work If it could not be done out OF
h current of the govern
hlent. SO much for What has been
accomplished in support Of River and
ifafDor improvements. 1t s a great
WORK and viii grow in fay = and ac-
vast practical res: It's.
Inc Good Roads people q the 9th
hahd nave not %atte1np 4 as Yet
any program for a nations: crusade
IN behai Of improved highways. In
huinerabie bills have been introduced
os Individual congressman looking to
CONSTRUCTION Of particular high
Hass IN their individual States. but
- INDIVIDUAL projects have failed
pten allowed to rest quietly in COW
ml.tee pigeon-holes which ;s ins. -
80 Tor want Of an awakened sant;-
naa mat would endorse the evnand;
provements. ~ sucn IN