The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1909-05-13
GoOd Roads a Question of National IM-
p0FtdDCe.

Commission, appointed by the Pres
ident of the United States to consid-
err the condition Of the farmers and
recommend remedies for existing de-
ficlencies in country life, was submit
ted to Congress on February 9th, 19-
%, together with a message from
the President. While the Commits
sion purposely avoided endorsing any
particular bill now before Congress,
it does make certain specific recon-
mendations. On the subject of high
way improvement the Commission
makes the following statement and
suggestions:
"The demand for good highways
is general among the farmers of the
entire United States. Education and
good roads are the two needs most
frequently mentioned in the hear
ings. Highways that are usable at
all times Of the year are now imper-
ative, not only for the marketing of
produce, but for the elevation of the
social and intellectual status Of the
open country and the improvement
of health by insuring better medical
and surgical attendance.
''The advantages are so we'll un-
derstood that arguments for better
roads are not necessary here. Our
respondents are now concerned
largely with the methods of organ
iZing and financing the work. With
only unimportant exceptions, the
! farmers who have expressed them
selves to US on this question consider
the Federal Government is fairly
under obligation to do the work.
eve hold that the development of
a fully serviceable highway system
/ is a matter Of national concern, CO.
ordinate with the development Of
waterways and the conservation of
our native resources. 1t is absolute
ly essential to our internal develop
ment. The first thing necessary is
to provide expert supervision and
direction and to develop national
plan. All the work should be coop
erative between the Federal Govern
ment and the States. The question
of Federal appropriation for high
way work in the States may well be
held in allegiance until national SER
vice is provided and tested We sug-
gest that the United States Govern
ment establish highway engineer
ing service, or equivalent organiza-
ton, to be at the call Of the States
in working out effective and econom-
ical highway systems. 81
The report and recommendations
of the Commission are highly valu-
able, as its careful investigation, in
Guiding personal visits to all sections
of the country, and correspondence
with $4,000 residents of the country
districts as to the most pressing
needs Of the farmers for the i'm
provement of their condition, shows
that public sentiment is unanimous
in favor Of better roads as a practi-
cal means of supplying existing def
ciencies in country life.
In his message to Congress accom-
panying the Commissions report the
President summarizes the conclus-
ions arrived at by the Commission
and states that as the result Of its
Investigations the following three
great general and immediate needs
of country life stand out:
First, effective cooperation
among farmers, to put them on q
level with the organized interests
with which they 90 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 life, and not as
at present, mainly for life il town.
Better means of communication,
including good roads and a parcels
post, which the country people are
everywhere, and rightly, unanimous
in demanding.
The satisfaction Of the first two of
these needs will be greatly facilitated
by the adoption of system of i'm
proved roads extending through ali
the farming sections of the country
Bad roads are the chief obstacle to
cooperation among the farmers, and
improved roads will make CO opera
ton possible.
The need for new i>iGd Of coun-
try schools cannot be met 50 long as
our dirt roads, which at certain sea
sons are almost impossible, prevent
the attendance Of the farmers chill
ren at centralized schools where they
could have all the advantages Of a
graded school in connection with a