The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1917, 1915-03-16
Goods Roads Department

States. From this information il NAV
be observed that oGr own great con-
monwealth is among oIly about eight
States out of forty-cigh: wi;hou:
centralized highway department or
commission.
Centralized CGntr0i Essential.
II further discloscs ;hc rrupon-
derant weight of op!rioa and a,:pcr-
iencc TO be that such centralized col
i.ol seems 10 be hsolufcly essential
in obtaining cti.uic ic: and economy
in road construction and main
tcnaacc. ana :l:a: ,he principle nf
natlona! G.: State a!d a':d control i3
firmly Established and we'll :.Xcd.
nave heen .ac:ouSi!l, coH ,iactd that
The responsibility ior IuaI constrCc-
tion and I.a,itcna1,e - Texas
should. il part. be takca over by The
State urtlc: al administrative tuni-
mission Or .0Spai;l:ic:.. head. where
responsibility Gun bc vel! tcc:ne,. aad
readily placed.
bc..o"c scc:i n department of our
goveI::c': .:liu-::d. fror, top to base,
be u c. ti?-.::::. tusincsslike or
ganiz. -, Tia: would not only see
that III read improvement in Texas
should be scientifically, capably and
honestly done. but that, by general
plan, the isolated spasmodic, in
cohesive work done by municipalities
districts and counties might be done
under the supervision of one central
authority, in Il practical, economical
manner with u we'll defined scheme
OF ultimately merging these highways
into a closely-woven and continuous
system Of cardinal, trunk line and
market highways.
The service OF providing and main
tanning Dassable roadside arteries
of commerce, industry, agriculture
and tradc-becolmes yearly more and
more important public functions
Therefore every reasonable effect
should be made by our lawmaking
body. to provide funds, by appropria-
tion or otherwise, thai. the tremen-
economic development Of Texas may
DO overcome and removed. Methods
should be carefully, earnestly and
patriotically plunned. adopted and
put into early execution, whereby the
greatest good may be extended to the
greatest number OF people.
The value of good roads can scarce
ly be ovcrestimated. Their value in
dollars and cents eau not he adc-
.uately expressed. No nation, st.
county. city. town, community or in
diyidual farm can attain its full ahare
Of prosperity until It's market high
ways are surfaced |or so graded and
drained as to make available the
easy passage OF vehicles. Steam and
electric power for transportation of
the products of the territory can not
bo utilized to full advantage unless
the roads leading to the principal
and shipping point are
passable, and the more easy the
travel, the greater the efficiency OF
the means of transportation and the
more prosperous the people.
should like to quote George
Fitch's tribute (?) TO "Mud:"
"NIud is earth which has been put
In soak by nature.
Mud is the most valuable thing in
The world. After earth haH been mud
for awhile 1t produces crops, without
which mankind would curl UP and die
like baby sparrow on q hot Moor
step.
However. since mud does not raise
crops on the country roads, he has
no particular use for mud in that
particular spots
"All over the central part Of this
nation the country roads are paved
with mud. Mud NAKED the worst
pavement In tho world. A five-mile
mud pavement In Marchsis as effec-
tive, ,as two-inch oak Jail door for
keeping farmer at home. There are
OF millions OF bushels, OF
grain on the farms of America In
The early spring, but they do not
have much effect upon the cost of
living, because they are separated
from the market by several miles OF
roads which clasp the farm wagons
to their bosom with d glad gurgle and
refuse to release them until three
teams are hitched on.
Wherever. mn6 sis used for making
roads the farmer sells his grain
when the roads are firmest instead
of when the market is firmest-
American mud Is extremely USE
less on tho country roads. It Is evon
more useless on, the city streetP. 1t
Is hard to work up worry over the
TACT that. tho American business does
not worship old masters and broken
1osed statuary. hut It Is easy to be-
come Distressed over the aesthetic.
caste Of O man who willSwada down
town ankledeep in last wintsr's mud
oil spring without calling around at !;
the city hail with: d. rope and pleading
g be nllcwnd to hang the administra-
Hon. S, ! s;5ssSs & :
3 s.The efficiency OF y American citv