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

States. From this information il may
be observed that our own great conn
monwealth Is among only about eight
States out OF forty-eight without a
centralized highway department or
mlrission.
Centralized Control Essential.
1t further discloses the prepon-
derant weight of opinion and cxper-
ience TO be that such centralized con
troll seems to be absolutely essential
in obtaining eGlcic lcy and economy
in road construction and main
tenancc, and that the principle of
national or STATE aid and control IA
firmly established and well fixed. l
have been thoroughly convinced that
the responsibility for road construc-
ton and maintenance IL Texas
should. in part. be taken over ty the
State under an administrative com
mission or department. head. whore
responsibility can Eo well defined and
readily placed.
belic:c such department OF our
COVE: nmert shcuid, from top to base,
be c.o3c!y-knit, businesslike or
ganiZat.oI thai would not only see
that FL road Improvement in. Texas
should be scientifically, capably and
honestly done, but that by q 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 a practical, economical
manner, with a we'll defined scheme
of ultimately merging these highways
into closely-woven and continuous
system of cardinal, trunk line and
market highways.
The service OF providing and ..1ain-
tanning passabie roads-the arteries
OF commerce, industry, c agriculture
and trade becomes 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, that the tfemen-
dcus hindrances to the internal and
ECONOMIC development Of Texas may
be overcome and removed. Methods
should De carefully, earnestly and
patriotically planned, 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
iy be overestimated. Their valae in
dollars and cents can not be ade-
luately expressed. No nation. Sta
county, city, town, community or in
dividuai farm can attain it's full share 1
OF prosperity until its 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 ef the territory can not |
be- utilized to full advantage unless |
the roads leading to the principal |
and shipping point arej
and the more easy the |
travel, the greater the efficiency of /
the means OF transportation and the
mor5 prosperous the people.
I should like to quote George
Fitch.s tribute CD to mud"
Mud is earth which has been put
IN soak by nature.
Mud Is the most valuable thing In
he world. After earth has baen mud
or awhile Il produces crops, without
which mankind would curl up and die
Ike q baby sparrow on hot door
step.
However, since mud does not raise
,rops on the country roads, he has
10 particular use for mud In that
Particular spot
All over the central part of this I
iation. the: country roads are paved
Fiittii mud. Mud makes the K worst
.ayemert In the world. Al fivs-mile I,
niid pavement In March Is as efcec-
I've as q twp-inph oak Jail door for
Ieepirg farmer az home. There are
lan6yeds of millions of bushels OF
rain on the farms OF America I'm