The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1910-08-13
Correspondence n. 8. Picayune. j

4iuSOlu SOuuby CnuiC W DNoOhuuNCA
to attend the good roads rally held
in City Park today. In the crowd
was goodly proportion of ladies'.
who are taking an equal interest
with their husbands and fathers in
furthering the movement.
1t was 1880 o'cIock when j. w.
McGrath, master of ceremonies,
introduced Charles w. Thatcher.
popularity known as the apostle
of good roads. Mr.. Thatcher is
a Virginian who is devoting his
energies to this cause without hope
or expectation of remuneration.
He has travelled in every State
with his covered wagon helping to
arouse sentiment for permanent
and well.kept highways. His
speech painted in glowing colors
the prosperity which would follow
the building of good roads through
out the land, and he foretold the
time when the farmers would
Transport their products not only to
the local. markets. but to the metro
politan warehouses over good high
ways in automobile trucks. cutting
out the middlemen's charge. The
object for which he is working is a
government constructed highway
sixty feet wide from Detroit to
New Orleans, which shall be a
main artery of travel.
He gave striking instances of the
tax of bad roads on the people of
the country, declaring that bad
roads cost the people of the United
States over $4,000 a day. A strik-
ing instance was mentioned of a
Lincoln county man who wanted to
sell his cotton at time when the
price was high but the roads were
so bad he could not haul load to
town. Before the roads had i'm
proved the price of cotton had fall
len to point where the loss to him
exceeded $50-a bad roads tax IN
deed. Mr.. Thatcher demonstrated
that the S24, 900 now spent annually
in Lincoln county on roads would
pay the interest on a bond issue of
$500. 900 for permanent roads, and
would furnish a sinking fund which
would retire the issue in fifteen
years.
He commended the new Missis-
sippi law which authorizes a coun-
ty districts to issue bonds for
roads, and advised the people Of
the whole county to join in the
movement now under way to sell
bonds for roads in Beat l.
Excepting Georgia. Mr.. Thatcher
says, his observation shows that
Mississippi and northern Louisiana
have better material at hand for
making roads than any other South
ern State. With gravel abundant
as it is here. he says that first class
permanent roads can be construct
ed at a cost of $3.50 to $4,000 per
mile,
At the conclusion of Mr.. Thatch-
er's speech Philip WerIeln, of New
Orleans. was introduced. Mr..
Werlein stated this was his first
experience in speaking to an open
air audience. His remarks were
greeted with hearty applause. He
began by stating that he regarded
the movement for good roads one
of the greatest Importance, as pre-
venting the great railroad corpora
tions from utilizing the capital of
the country. He foresaw the early
realization Of Mr.. Thatcher's dream
of a change in transportation
methods, and would welcome the
day when the producers of the
country's products would be inde-
pendent of railroad transportation.
He declared that under existing
conditions the development of roads
and waterways is a necessity if the
people would protect what they
have. Every part of he country
is discussing it, but that section
which first takes up the question
and acts is the section which will
reap the greatest benefit. Bad
roads,, said he. mean broken
wagons, lame mules, bad harness
and sick families. Good roads lead
to churches full on Sunday, schools
full on vet days. and all the advan-
tages and blessings which civiliza-
tion can bring
His statement that should New
Orleans fail to get the Panama
Exposition the money raised by
taxation for exposition purposes
is to be spent on streets and roads.
was heartily applauded Mr..
Werlein cited many instances of
his own observation wherein
property had been enhanced ID
value greatly BY the construction
of good roads. and also mentioned
places ID New Orleans where prices
are very low because Of lack Of
facilities for transportation
This declaration from q practical
business man had splendid effect
on some who were inclined To Oh.
pose or at least. to hold aloof from
the movement.