The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-07-20

and BywayS." He spoke to them three
years ago at the Manhattan meeting.
On his trip abroad since he saw them
last he had been unable to get away
from the rural carrier. He cited some
experiences near Old Roslyn Castle,
Scotland, in England, and on the con-
tinent, giving features of the visit OF
the Belgian carriers on an efficiency
tour of the British poStoffice work
while he was there. The systems
were compared, and the difference in
pay and mileage interested the Kan
SaS men. The carrier over there has
/ little more than half the pay, and COW
ers IT or 8 miles afOOt. The road
systems were contrasLed. Nearly two
thousand years had elapsed since the
Roman roads were made, and yet
those part he was on are good today.
The NapOleOnic ROAD system is
monument to the initiative of that
Emperor, whereas all his other ambi-
tions are buried with him." he said.
THE persistent mending of the roads
over there commends itself to the
thinking observer. They say that the
road to a certain place is paved with
good intentions. Are there not other
roads which have that same pave
ment?
Road building covers a wider field
as you consider it than the mere high
ways upon which we travel. We are
helping to build roads between minds,
roads reaching toward great ideals.
Carriers are having their part in this
Our state is road builder along these
lines, making world highway for
the nations TO follow. Are we not
proud of her, as we think of her lead
ership in prohibition. suffrage. moral
re-direction. The greatest habitat in
the world for nation-building,
race-making people. Here the cruel;
bic works better than in any part of
the world.
THE bad and the good are found
nearly related. Professor Dickens
says that the reason our Kansas roads
are so bad is that the dirt is SO good
THE greatest problem upon the
American continent today is that of
the country, the country opportunity
Without the carrier the life would be
indeed barren. We spend vast sums
of money for various counties in Kan
sas. and we realize that we are get
ling results for this outlay of money"
Here the speaker had contrasting
figures from townships and counties
to show that some parts of the state
that We're not improving their roads
were paying as much per mile as
those that were building permanent
roads of rock, gragel and brick. He
resumed.
We work on a one-year program.
Far better to divide the classes of
needed work into about four, and
make the class of worst condition new
construction that is permanent. thus
completing the years road and bridge
program with something definitely
done. We ought to employ man in
each township the whole year. 1 am
not sure but L am in favor of the
county general manager elected by the
board and held for the success of va
riOus activities along the line of roads,
etc. 1t is a big business we run to-
DAY. The roads and the educational
system have not kept pace with other
advance"
Mr.. Docking dealt very plainly with
fyine system. and waste of money in
repeated rebuilding of culverts and
bridges. citing examples. Growing the
roads properly, special attention to
drainage, which is after all the secret
of making good roads, was strongly
recommended.