Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-11-21
President Unable to Attend
First National Meeting in
Richmond, But Wires His
Hearty Approval.
WILSON NDPAGE
AMONG SPEAKERS
Secretary Of Agriculture
and Director Of Roads
Outline Views Of Depart
ment on This Subject.

American good roads congress opened
here today without it's most distin-
guished delegate, President Taft. Late
last night the president telegraphed
the managers OF the convention that
the white house physician forbade him
to risk the visit to Richmond because
of the development of cold which
the president took on the last day OF
his western trip.
President Taft, in telegraphing his
regrets, said:
Il have been looking forward to
taking part in the good roads con.
gress with great deal of pleasure
because am in sympathy with the
movement which Is gaining strength
in every state and In the nation for
the construction of permanent good
reads.
The effect they will have In In
creasing the value OF farms, In max
ing the lives Of farmers and their
families much more full OF comfort
and in the general benefit conferred
by greater ease in inter.communica
tion, the country over, cannot be ex-
aggerated. | wish could be pres
ent to utter my approval and en-
couragement." ss
The secretary OF agriculture James
Wilson, came however, as the presi.
dents representative.
The program Of the first session Of
the congress today In addition to IN
address by Secretary Wilson, included
q welcome to the delegates by Gov
Mann Of Virginia, addresses by SenAr
tors Martin and Swanson. Logan w.
Page, director of the good roads ONCE
OF the department Of agriculture and
president of the American Association
for Highway improvements, also
spoke. q 4 {Ss
President w. w. Finley, OF tho
southernrailway, Representative John
Lamb, Of Virginia. chairman OF thu
house committee on agriculture. and
Representative j. Hamilton Moore Of
Pennsylvania were also speakers.
Interest in the congress Is intense,
especially from the southern states
which have sent large delegations.
Secretary Wilson's Talk. vi &
Good roads as related to the cost OF
living was discussed by Secretary ol
Agriculture James Wilson In an ad.s
dress here today before the good roads
congress. He declared the cost Of liv-
ing would be reduced when there waa
established more intimate relation
between the producer and the con.
sumer. With the increase In the good
road mileage, the parcels post. he
said, would perfect the facilities for
getting from the farm to the town.
Relations between farmers and
town folk can be established" he ex.
planned. "for the prompt transfer daily
or weekly Of much that the farmer
produces and town people consume. At
present, when the town dweller pays
dollar, the farmer gets half or less
With parcels post the farmer would
get more, the carrier would get his
freight, and the consumer would get
his supplies promptly, fresh and good.
Dairy products, fruits, meats and
vegetables are transferred In this way
In other countries, with great salts
faction to all concerned and with less
unhealthy food, fewer ptomaines and
less frequent stomach troubles.
Bad Roads Hurt Both Parties.
The value of farm land and the ox.
tent and character of production there
on are influenced largely, the secre.
tary pointed out, by the condition ol
the public roads. Many products, he
said cannot be transported for long
distances over poor roads, SO that
farmers in such countries must raise
crops that are not perishible. This
works loss to both producer and com
sumer, to the former in that he must
deliver his goods when the roads per-
NIT, to the latter In that he must pay
higher prices than If good roads would
permit the farmer to deliver his milk,
fruit and vegetables with less wear
and tear on horses and wagons and In
less time.
Every farmer should, merely as
matter OF self interest," said the secs
retary, "be strong advocate OF road
improvement and should give practical
support to q movement looking to the
betterment Of present conditions"
Tells Of Object Lesson Roads.
Turning to what has been done IN
this direction by the department Of
agriculture through its bureau Of good
roads, the secretary declared that ~ q
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