Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-04-01
GOOD ROADS OF
BENEFIT TO ALL
President of Overland Company
Tells of Progress Made and
the Many Advantages

Among those particularly interest
ed in the outcome of many of the
good road bills now in the hands or
various committees at Washington is
John n. Willys, president of The Will
lys- Overland Company, of Toledo. Mr..
Willys always has been q staunch sup
porter of the good roads movement
in this country and has contributed
most generously towards its advance
ment.
In commenting upon the subject he
was enthusiastic over the progress
made throughout the United States In
the last few years and gave his optn-
ion that 1916 would break all records
in the amount of good roads work
accomplished.
Judging by the numerous approp-
riations for good roads which are be-
ing considered by Congress and the
different State legislatures, it would
seem that 1916 will go down in history
as a record year in the advancement
of improved highways" says Mr.. Will
lys.
THE whole country is stirred as
never before relative to their great
question of highway improvement. If
there is anything in the world that a
good citizen who loves his State and
has civic or State pride delights in, it
is to have the city and State reputa-
tion maintained.
"A commemorative reputation for
enterprise. progress and all that goes
to make it worth living for, is deter
mined to a great extent by the char
acter of it's roads. And if these arter-
and pleasure life of a State are ne
elected, travel is diverted sooner or
later to other channels and the chief
sufferers are the townspeople and
formers who live along the neglected
highway.
whenever a farmer loads his de-
livery car or wagon for market, he
has in mind the road over which he
has to travel. He knows that its
worst hill or mud hole limits the size
of the load he can move. And be-
cause this is so, the maximum ef-
ticiency of a stretch of highway does
not exceed the maximum load that
man can haul over the poorest spot
in it.
Most of the opposition to road i'm
provement work, that any one time,
was almost universal among farmers,
has disappeared now that he auto
mobile is in common use in the
country. The objection formerly rails
ed by the farmer was that the city
tourist benefited mostly by the good
roads work which he. the farmer,
was taxed Tor. But the city man also
contributes toward the fund. His
automobile tax goes toward the cost
of State roads and he pays for good
share of the maintenance expense.
THE rapid increase in the sale of
small, light model Overland cars is
evidence of the universal appeal good
roads make to all classes of people.
And while the perfecting of the small
light automobile has been the
countrys greatest factor in securing
better highways, the motorist is not
the only one to benefit by them.
EVERY man, woman and child who
lives in a community where good
roads prevail. has a hundred and one
over those who are sur
rounded and hemmed in by poor
roads. In fact, I believe good roads
to be essential to all phases of our
commercial and social intercourse
and development.
1.-The importance of good roads in
time of war has been demonstrated
forcibly by the armies in Europe.
Hundreds of thousands of men have
been transported back and forth, by
automobile and motor truck, over
roads that have been kept in good
condition for years. Other reports
tell us how whole armies have been
delayed for days and weeks owing to
the poor condition of the highways in
some parts of the territory"