Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-07-29
MUST BATTLE
FOR BETTER
HIGHWAYS
PROSPERITY DEPENDS ON
THE ROADS, SAYS Y0AkUM
Farmers Behind Times; Only
Organization and Hard Work
Will Result in Good Rural
ThoroughfareS,
Try Morning Journal Special L.a..a wirsI

Try Morning Journal speciai Lsassa wirsI
Niagara Falls, y. Y July 2S.--Co-
operation between the federal ana
state governments in the good roads
movement was advocated today by
the speakers at the opening session of
the third annual convention of the
National Good Roads congress. b. f.
Yoakum of the st. Louis and san
Francisco railroad and Congressman
William Sulzer OF New York favored
the idea of the federal government
loaning money to the states for good
roads building. In the general dis
cussion which followed Martin Dodge
of washington, spoke in favor of the
national government making appro-
prations equal to amount expended
bv the states for road construction.
Your organizations stand for a duty
sadly neglected by the government
Good roads mean more for the peo-
pie at large than any other pubic
work, and add more to the comfort
and upbulding of the country They
are of national Importance.
Government statistics tell us that
it costs our farmers ) cents more TO
haul one to none mile in this coun-
/ try than il costs in European coun-
| tries. The products OF the farms OF
/ the United states last year amounted
to approximately $50 million tons.
The government shows the average
/ la
additional cost of S1.35 ton for an
average haul Of nine miles Estimat-
ing that two-thrds of the agricul-
tural products OF last year were
hauled away from the farms, there
would have been Il saving to the
American farmers of 225 million dol
lars If cur roads had been up to the
standard OF European roads, not in-
cluding their back haul Of supplies
from the stations to the farms. They
would also have saved large sums IN
the cost of replacing and repairing
harness, wagons, etc, and in the IN
vestment and care of extra drausht
stock.
The only way to get good roads Is
to fight for them. Your organization
can do it's work most effectively by
keeping before the people i'm as many
ways rs possible the importance oil
making money by making better
roads. It is not a sentimental propo'
sition. but purely business one.
There has been expended upon the
Mississippi river, including surveys
within the last 100 years 225 millior
dollars to put that public water high
way in condition for handling prod
ucts of the farm and commerce tlio
utarv to it, The last statistics avail
able show that in 1906 there were
l.545. 900 tons less transported on TIM
river than in 1889. This 225 millior
dollars was expended between 81
Louis and New Orleans, with th'
states of Missouri. Arkansas, an'
Louisiana on the western boundary
and the states of Illinois, Tennessee
and Mississippi on the eastern. TIT
farmers of these states which porde
directly upon the Mississippi river q
say nothing OF those Of the remaininl
forty states have received no heneii
from this vast sum wastefully ek
pcnded by the government. on TN
contrary, the farmers are paying a
much for broken harness, broker
wagons, with as much lost time. haul
ing one-half q load TO a team, as the,
were before this 225 million dollar
was expended There has been ~
systematic plan for the improvement
of the Mississippi river. Therefor
this great waste Of money has beel
r ba tru
of commerce or the development o
agriculture The same amount o
! money expended in good road max
ing would have yielded tremendou
, returns TO the people. 1t Is the dut
! Of every citizen OF the United state
3 Il, aid the farmer in every way con
, slstent with business principles Z
: market his products 10 best advant
age. and in this connection no on
5 factor Is Of more economic import
= ance than the reduction OF the COS
of transportation between the rarr
and the railroad station.
= IL took three-quarters OF "A centur
to build up the American railroads
During the same time little attention
has been given to the building up o
American country roads. Yet IN
value of the two to the nublic goe
hand in hand. Food and clothin
/. must he handled between the pro
ducers and the consumers over bot
the country road and the railroad. ]
il important that the country road
l. approach the high standard of tn
railroads.
10 a railroad encounters hig
! grade over hill. which means eN
= cessive use of coal. slow trains an
light loads. the railroad cuts dow
the heavy grades to save coal bills.
move freight faster. to carry bigge
: traInloads. u bOrrows millions to d
, the grade cutting. pays the intere'
y on this money. and through th
' economy is enabled TO increase Il
surplus. The railroads borrow none