The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1912-07-10
PLAIN DUTY CALLS
FOR GOOD ROADS
Trunk Hishways Must Supple
msnt State Systems-Section-
alism Disappears

"A. "A. Batcnelder, chairman OF tie
executive committee of the American
Automobile Association, gave an In
teresting address before a committee
representing the automobile and good
roads people of Seattle last week at
the Arctic club. Part of his remarks
follow:
"Snce travel is no longer local and
roads affect everybody, ii is the plain
duty of business men through organ
ization to give their great influence to
highway improvement. And so it Is
equally true that the motorist who
uses the roads most must concern
himself in a duty which properly de-
wolves upon him. y
Cyclist Was Visionary
Years ago it was the cyclist, look
ed upon almost as a visionary, who
fought for good roads. His place has
been taken by the motorist and with q
vehicle both time-saving and econom-
ical. Now we motorists have no hes
itation in working brazenly and open
ly for good roads. In all parts or
the country automobiles are actively
allied in one for or another with the
bodies, nearly 400 clubs, representing
in organized form nearly 100000 ac-
tive road users
''In New York and other states We
have established co-partnerships be-
tween the state and ourselves In tho
payment of substantial annual reg
fstration fee in lieu Of all taxes, pro-
viding every dollar shall be used in
the maintenance of improved roads.
:. Need National Aid
After state roads and q highway
commission with help to county and
township roads, the next logical step
is national system Of roads to sup
plement the state systems. We must
not get sidetracked on this proposition
of national roads.
"Unquestionably the first call is this
Matchmaking of the nation by na-
tienal roads connecting all parts Of
the country. Better we know one an
other. our sectionalism subsidies and
fades away. President Taft not long
ago in New York City in speech at
an automobile dinner. admitted that
the general government had the power
for promoting interstate commerce t.
build national roads. The president
ventured, however, to question THE
wisdom of opening that method Of
spending federal government money,
but as the people have decided other
things and will decide them more in
the future than in the past, they will
figure out if we can afford this great
boon of national road communications.
Want Better Things
"Once upon a time when travel was
local We were satisfied with almost
any kind of road. Now we are af-
ter something better. 1t is in great de-
gree because of the coming of the
self propelled vehicle. People in large
numbers tour abroad and not at home.
Through roads will enable many 20
see their own country, besides accel-
Grating, highways improvement from
coast to coast.
routes would be astounding. The,
transcontinental idea appeals to the
imagination. 1t is American in corr
ception and typifies the progress Of
the West, which quickly absorbs ana
utilities anything new possessing mer-
it. There is a bigness and broadness
in the West which Is not always found
in the East.
"A trip from coast to coast in an
automobile with its possibilities for
an intimate examination Of country, is
an education Incompatible to any
thing else. This interstate touring is