East Mississippi times. (Starkville, Miss.) 19??-1926, 1913-08-29
The Great Highway Convention.


ways was considered. There are
indications that the result will be
far>reaching.
That the meeting exceeded all ex-
pectations, no one will dispute.
The attendance was much as to
indicate that the people in every
county contiguous to Meridian, and
in fact in all parts of the state, are
not only anxious for better roads,
Ebut are determined to have themf
The public highway from Cor
inth to Meridian is practically as
sured, if the statements of the de.
legates from the different counties
along the proposed line were not
too optimistic. Every county was
pledged to get busy at once. The
same can be said of the counties
along the same line to Galfport.
Every county Though which the
highway will pass declares a readi-
ness to put the work through with
out any unnecessary delay. The
same can be said about each coun>
ty between Meridian and Vicks-
burg, for the east lowest highway.
In addition to this, the high
way from Meridian to Mobile
should be built and also the one
from Meridian to Canton via
Philadelphia. At least one great
highway should come into the city
from Alabama, and in fact it may
be considered certain that there
will be one or more,
There was some talk in the cons
venti0n about national aid. This
will be valuable if it can be Sc
cured. There was also talk about
getting the state convicts on the
highways. This has been talked
for many years and it has not come
yet. The people who are promot-
ting thesee highwaysslrytiIa not wait
for state or national aid. If they
do the roads may never be built.
The way TO do is to yet in behind
them and build them now. There
will he plenty of sideraads in each
county for the convir.s to work and
for the use OF all the money that
the national government will do
nate. There need not be any un-
easiness on this score, because
when the through highways are
built the work has only just be-
gun. There will be good roads
tapping the main lines from every
Village and town for twenty-five
miles distant. First get he throngii
pubic highways and the side pub
lie highways will come.
so far as getting the state con-
vics is concer ,ed. this should not
he relied on too much. The state
has valuable farm property that
is being cultivated by convicts and
it might not be able to t'rn this
property alose to an advantage,
and besides the "onvicts are put.
ting annually about quarter of .
million dollars into the state 'reas.
ury.. The argument that they are
In competition with free labor in
raising cotton has never been seri,
ously considered by the legislature
as the members know that TN.
aniOunt of cotton raised by tbs
states does not affect the market /,
the extent Of one point. 1t ha.
about the same effect that dropping
one drop OF water into the oceur
would have. This Is the veiw tha
has beer tuken In the bast'by leg
} islatures, hences the warnlng tina
it would not do to court too Mucl
on help from this source.
The way to get these highway
is for the people of each county t,
resolve that they will build tn
road through their Counties, with
: out state or national MD, excep
that the stute might permit bon,
| issues, and the work can he speed
= iy done. When the great across
q the stare highways nre ilnilf, tn