Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1914-11-12
Fairfax Harrison of Southern Railroad
Says II Is important that Before Road
Improvement Is Taken up by CommunI-
ties II Should be Started Right.
SELECTION OF ROADS TO BE
IMPROVED rs IMPORTANT
Speaks OF GIamor OF Suggestion OF Great
Highways, But Says They Are Of Value
Only to Owners OF Touring Cars and a
Few Farmers Along Them.
by Associated Press.l

@ VI Ut NOutUtTn runway.
was one of the speaker, before the Ameri-
can Road Congress here Wednesday. He
dwelt upon the Importance of good roads
to the growing development Of the South.
lie said:
"ln the early days of the good roads
South would properly nave devoted it, time
largely to emphasizing the advantages of
good roads, but, while educational cam
paigns to each the value of good roads
are no longer needed in the South, the
holding Of the American Good Road Con
gress at Atlanta, will tend to stimulate the
good roads movement in all of the South
ern states. Al soon a the present bust
ness depression, growing out of the effect
of the European war on the market for
cotton, has passed away, as il surely will,
and when the onward progress of the
South has been resumed one OF the WAYS
IN which 1t will he manifested will be IN
greater a~ctiyity in road building.
"When road Improvement IL taken up
IN any community IT j. important that
1t be started right, and | shall venture to
speak to You briefly on what, | think, j.
one of the most important matters that
must be decided before actual work can
be commenced. That i: m. selection Of
the roads TO be improved.
1T ~ almost invariably true that the
community embarking on a policy of high
way Improvement j. not financially able
ia rphutl1 oil nf -. raal. 81 A.
Those IN charge of it, road policy must
decide which of the roads shall he i'm
proved al once and which shall be left for
the future. The answer must be found in
the peculiar needs of each community.
There II a glamour about the mere sus
gestion of a great through highway. ira
versing several states, connecting widely
separated cities, aud travelled by tourists
from distant parts of the country. The
very history Of such roads i fascinating,
a., Tor example, that of the Cumberland
o or the National highway which
pierced the West M the early days of the
nineteenth century. Under modern condi-
lions such a road may benefit the owner,
of touring ears, and it, u,c by .hcm may
scatter some few dollars IN the different
communities which it traverses. bat il will
benefit relatively few ot the farmer>-only
those who live along it, line. IN 4 com.
munity where the principal industry j.
conducting hotels for tour.st-. the i'm
provement of roads with special reference
To attracting automobile travel may be- 10
sirable, but, generally speaking. | doubt
whether the best use that can he made ii
a limited road fund will be- in the construc-
tlon OF a through highway Of this kind.
The statesmen of road bulldin. must
consider what permanent value the road
may serve in developing a country. and
under our conditions in the South TIN.
consideration points inevitably L. the
farmer a the class most 10 be considered
IN road planning.
~ good country highway /, helpful. di-
rectly or indirectly, to All those who live
IN town a well a. those who live m IN,
country, but Il L primarily beneficial "a
The farmer. Ii l. hi highway H. market,
lie ana his family must u~r 4 IN aIl Of the
social intercourse ~ the ncighborhnod and
IN church and school attendance. n j.
over The country road that the rural mail
carrier brings 10 the farmer hi letter.
ana newspapers which keep him N touch
with the events of the world. While II i
not generally appreciated. because few
farmers keep books IN which they take AZ.
count of their own time and that of their
teams "a well a. of their hired men. =,
tistics prepared by the United State. de-
partment OF agriculture show that the cost
Of hauling farm products Ia a >hipmp-
station ! . very large percentage If m,
totai cost Of their carriage to their final
markets and 4 out ot an proportion ~
the charges mad for their TRANSFORMATION
~ ran or water. An improved road r..
duccS tins cost and ha> the effect nf
bringing outlying farms nearer ~ ~. .hi,
p'ng point by reducing the time required
for hauling. and Il tend a. advanr, the
value of each farm that It passes.
On account Of the great interest ~ tho
farmer IN good road. | believe that tho.
responsible for the road pole, OF an, cam
muniiy should cndcavor 10 rxpcnd ,urh
iunds a. may be available - that the
largest possible number of farmers n, !
be benefited and that this NAV he ac.
comPliShed hy improving first the road.
hat rad'aie from a market town or ,h,n.
ping station.
III the amount of money available !.
quite small II may he necessary to linn,
expenditures. for a time. ~ 4 .in,l. roaa
bat where sufficient mcne, can be obtained,