The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1912-12-22

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auto. The fact of the inatter is the
man who owns the auto glories in
his possession and the man who
does not own one wishes he did and
generally speaking the only reason
why many-dnd especially among
the farmers-do not own an auto
is because their roads make it an
expensive propos ,tion. In every class
Of people the sins of the minority
are visited on the heads of the ma
iority and the auto owners are no
exception to this rule. There are
among their ranks men who do not
regard others and whose actions
would imply that they had the eX-
elusive right Of way on the public
highways, Then again there are
those among the non-auto owners
who are just as rabid in their own
belief and look on the auto as an
| encroacher, or pirate, and entitled to
no consideration. Combined with
this is an absence of any legisla-
tion on the statute books which de-
| fines the right of either.
Some Laws Needed.
The auto owner should insist on
such laws as will prevent the un-
desirable, reckless one of his class
from bringing all in disrepute. The
driver of the other vehicles should
be equally insistent that the same
laws be passed.
The two better elements should |
line up as solid phalanX and in
sist that the roads be put in such |
condition that all who desired courl
have the very best road possible so |
that, whether horse, mule, gasoline |
ucts of this commonwealth could be
rushed to market in the very quick
est time.
The Remedy.
The remedy lies with the lesisla
ture. Laws must he written in the
statute books which will enable the
taxpayers to get what they deserve
for their money. The present |
township system has not brought |
any tangible results in the past ten
years. For some reason money |
has been paid out and results have |
been slim This does not neces |
sarily reflect on any township o.
ficer in the state unless he has viii
fully sQuanderei the tax money en-
trusted to him. ] question if there |
are many who have done this, but |
while the majority might have don
and possibly have done-the very |
best they knew how--it is evident
that their knowledge OF road build
ing is limited
Some Straight Talk.
The building OF a dirt roWi--if it
portant and needs as much scientif-
ic knowledge as thai of a macadam
road or an asphalt pavement. In
this country the dirt road should
receive the very best of attention
and the average township official
does not know nor is he expected
to know the best treatment He
is a farmer-not road builder.
The remedy, therefore, is to provide
first adequate ways and means,
and second-efficient supervision, 90
the money will bring the best re-
suits. The average amount OF
money for a township is less than
two thousand dollars with an aver
age of eighty miles of road to look
after. Every township must pro-
vide its own tools, look after its
own drainage and do its own work.
Every farmer in the township WHAT'S
ecmc of that money spent near anj
round his farm, so the result Is lha'
it is scattered like an April show
er all over the township without
even laying the dust. If the unit
were larger and system of build
ing roads where they would serve
the most people were instituted, It
would not be many years before
every section line necessary would
be adorned with road that was
passable ninety per cent OF the time
As it is, spasmodic effort is made
and no real results are attained.
Of miles in the state o.
what should be good highways arc
t.:a IL ,,.ith