The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1914-01-06
BY David F. Houston, Secretary OF
Agriculture, In The indie.
pendent

The trend Of the times in the Uni
ted States is to bring the people near
er to one another. Inasmuch as the
distances separating them cannot be
physically reduced the solution Of the
problem lies in the simplifying and
perfecting all of the means OF com
munication and transportation. Rail
roads, steamships, telegraphy and
telephony have singly and collectively
brought the vast population Of coun.
try-a country o: long distances-in.
to closer touch and greater unity OF
interest, yet with all our progress one
means of communication and trans.
portation has failed to keep pace with
other means In the evolution. I mean
OF course, good roads. The good road
movement is a national problem. 1t
is not only economic, but also social
and intellectual. It reaches close to
the very domestic structure OF every
American family. For that reason
farthering the good roads movement
cannot be the responsibility OF the
government-any more than 1t can
be that of an individual family. 1t
must be considered as the one inter
est in common among all those con-
cerned, from the very smallest civic
m tho fadnral
self.
The Two Questions
The good roads movement is nation
al in scope and that may be rea-
son why 1t has been subject to so
much Misunderstanding. Few persons
seem to be aware that the govern.
ment's interest has its limitations.
For that reason I wish to make clear
two points: First, how far the feder-
al government can and ought to go
in the matter and second, the exact
meaning of the good roads movement
County Roads
Taking the latter point first,
must go on record with the explain
alton that the movement does not
mean. as is generally believed. the
building Of a so called transconti-
mental highway. more or less direct,
from one coast to another. The value
of such road of course, cannot be
doubted, but we must not confuse a
national highway-made up of short
stretches of localized roads. which
touch at many points throughout the
country, each unit OF immense econo-
mic value to its immediate neighbor-
hood-with a single stretch OF road. |
way running for about four thousand |
miles without regard to subsidiary |
This latter sort OF road is |
| presume the one generally consid- |
cred in touring circles, where pleas
ure more than usefulness, and pic
rather than economic
value, seem the first requirements.
If we can devise, instead-and we
must do it-a system of roads m
ey cry county where population makes
II advisable or necessary, whose
branches would touch throughout a
given state, and then multiply this ra-
ito foTty-eight times, we would auto
establish national system
ol good roads of the highest value to
lie whole country. The primary I'M |
lertaking should be the Improvement |
of these community roads, where they |
are essentially for the marketing OF
food products and would insure clos !
e. intercourse among communities
and better the physical, intellectual
and social side Of rural life. 1t is
tue that during the last few years
the social and financial status Of the
population has grown mater
tally better, and therefor anything
that will end the isolation of the
community will operate for
the betterment OF the nation.
Relation To Country Schools
The suggestion OF interstate and
roads connecting
and cities of commercial i'm
portance appeals to me, but the es.
sential thing to be done is to pro-
vide such good roads as will enable
us TO get products from the commun.
ity farms to the nearest railroad sta
tions and make rural life more prof
table, comfortable and pleasurable.
Such roads are equally essential to
the establishment and operation of
adequate elementary and secondary
schools'for the benefit of the country
boys and girls.
There are several complex prob
lens TO be solved before the federal
government can be nationally expect.
ed to participate in an extensive way
In the good roads movement. and we
good roads movement, and we
must especially guard against the
WTFlR Uul1ffnNg