The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-08-22
All Kansas VIII Work on High
ways Next Year.
Governor Hodges Is Consider
ing a Proclamation.
HOLIDAYS MAY BE AUG. 2O-21
All Able Bodied Men Will Be
Called to Action.
New Spirit Between Kansas
and Missouri.

A proclamation calling for good
roads day in Kansas day when
thousands of Kansans will drop their
work, pick up shoveIs and picks and
join the laborers on the highways-is
the first move that Governor Hodges
will consider upon his return the last
of the week from Colorado Springs.
The governor had just completed a
two days visit with Governor Major
of Missouri spreading the better roads
movement in that state. He is over
flowing with interest in the work and
in all probability will declare two hol-
idays in Kansas next year, Aug. 20 and
21, when every able bodied Kansan will
be expected to arm himself with imple-
ments and improve the highways.
Kansas has a reputation as one of
the first states in the union to recog-
niZe the value of good roads. But, like
every western state, Kansas is a regu-
lar checkerboard of roads that are
sparsely settled and generally travelled.
The ocean-to-ocean movement and the
campaigns of motorists and agricultur-
al college experts has taught the far
ner and the city man that the Kansas
soil is a composition of all the natural
ingredients toward the construction of
a solid dirt macadam-and not until
recently have the advantages been ap-
preciated.
Governor Hodges figures that a two
of the entire population will mean mil
lions in money on the roads and will
do more for the Improvement of the
highways than the counties and taxes
can do in as many years.
Cut Down the Navy Expense.
Governor Hodges in a recent talk
with Governor Major of Missouri said
that the national government could
well afford to cut down its appropria-
ton for the army and navy and spend
the money on the national roads
kansas as much as it contributes
by indirect taxation to the support of
the national government receives back
in return only an occasional postoffice
building" the governor explained. I'VE
want fewer postoff1ce 'pIums that aren't
plums' and the money spent ON our
roads. Why the money the govern
nent spent to send the fleet around the
world a few years ago would have
built a great national highway from
New York to San Francisco and been
an everlasting monument to our civil
ization and progress.
kansas is telling her congressman
that they must work for national aid
in road building"
Governor Major has promised to aid
Kansas in the good roads movement
next year.
L am going to ask the governor of
to issue a proclamation call
ing on the people of the state to work
the roads August 20 and 21," says Gov
ernor Major. 1.-THE barriers of preju-
dice between Kansas and Missouri that
have existed since the civil war have
been swept away by a common cause
of good roads and mutual pledges of
assistance in lettering the highways
Of the two states"
Kansas is anticipating an army of at
least 100000 men on the roads when the
is issued next year. Per-
sons who will be unable to go out in
OverallS will be asked to contribute
funds toward the expense Of buying
tools and equipment.