The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1914-09-18
Road Congress

tNilSpCuSdulC pdlI VI I'll ttdHSpJlbd-
ton system of the country, supple
nenting its railroads and waterways,
President Harrison, of the Southern
galway Company, takes ali active
interest in the good roads move
ment. He is Vice. President Of the
american Highway Association and
will be one of the speakers at the
Fourth American Road Congress in
ltlanta, the week OF November 8.
Speaking of The relation of the
ouutry highway to the railroad,
dr. Harrison said; Whatever
nay be the final destination of the
farm products, their first movement
must be over the country road AMI
L the farmer is to receive the largest
MEASURE of benefit from good roads
he policy should be adopted of i'm
proving those highways which radi-
t. from market towns and shipping
tations and over WI ich the farmers
aust haul their products. The pro-
it which will be earned by the
armer may depend largely upon
he condition of the road from his
arm to shipping station. Stats
les compile d by the U. S. Depart
nent of Agriculture show that the
cost of hauling farm products to
hipping points over bad roads is a
iisproportionately large part of the
total expense of their transportation
to market, This is not always fully
realized by the farmer, but if he
will take into account the time of
himself and his team, and the wear
and tear on his vehicle and harness
made necessary by a larger number
If trips with smaller loads, he will
find that the cost mounts up very
fast and correspondingly reduces
his net profits. Another item of
the cost OF bad roads to the farmer,
which is often overlooked, is that
he must haul his products to markets
when the roads are not in their best
condition with little -egard as to
whether prices are favorable or
whether hauling at that time inter-
feres with work on the farm With
good roads he can not only haul
heavier loads in shorter time but,
except as to perishable commodities.
he can market his products when
prices are most favorable and can
do his hauling when it is most con.
venient and even when the ground
is t. wet for work in the fields.
THE manifold advantages of an
improved highway in reducing the
cost of dravage, facilitating sociol
intercourse, promoting school and
church attendance, expediting rural
mail delivery. increasing the value
of farm lands, and promoting agri-
cultural development back from the
railroads are so great that they need
but to be enumerated to present
convincing argument in favor of
road improvement.
Since several years ago when the
Southern Railway Company, in con-
junction with the U. S. Agricultural
Department ard State and local gu.
tt critics, operated over its lines a
good roads train, carrying machin-
cry and lecturers, and building at
central points object. lesson roads,
there has been very substantial pro-
gress in the good roads movement
throughout the South. This was
accelerated in 1911 by the operation
of another good roads train in CO.
operation with the U. S. Depart
ment of Agriculture and the Ameri-
can Highway Association. The
interest of the Southern people in
good roads has been thoroughly
aroused and in many localities the
country highways have been highly
improved and are being adequately
maintained.
Il think it is fortunate for the
South that the American Road Con-
gress of 1914 is to be held in Atlanta
This will unquestionably be one of
the most important gathering ever
held in the Southern States. 1t
will bring tooether the official heoda