Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-12-22
THE GOSPEL OF GOOD
ROADS AND ITS GENIUS
Not Selfish Gain, but Good of
the Country, Is His
Reward.
Special to The World.

special 10 The World
OKLAHOMA CITY. Dec 81. -
where does Mr.. Harvey come in ?"
That's what the average man wants to
konw when informed that Col. W. H.
tCoin) Harvey has been engaged In
promoting and building roads for more
than - years and that he receives NJ
salary for his work Naturally, such
question would be the first TO sug-
gest itself to the practical man.
Mr.. Harvey became interested in
the building Of roads thru necessity.
In his section of Arkansas. where he
located about - years ago. there were
no roads worthy the name. Failing
TO arouse citizens of the community
To "A point where they would voun-
teer to help build some. he began
making them at his own expense. They
were so convenient and valuable to
the local community that the same
citizens who were at first dsnter-
ested became enthusiastic over good
roads to the extent that they contrib
uted time and money to the construct
ing of more roads. and still more ROADS
Mr.. Harvey did not fail TO note that
tie more they contributed to work
Of this character the better citizens
thev became with reference to their
attitude toward their government and
naturally. its effect upon themselves
In other words while building roads
they also built character.
1t was then that Colonel Harvey
hogan n propaganda for better roads
that has since extended intO six states
He organized the Ozark Trails assc-
citation and was elected as its presi
dent. Members Of the association pay
- per wear for the privilege of be
longing and during the five years of
It's existence no man has been solicited
by Colonel Harvey, or at his susges-
tion, TO join the association. From
the start few patriotic men have
kept their membership alive and each
ozark Trails convention has brought
with il a substantial increase in the
volunteer membership roll. From this
small fund the expenses of the asso-
citation are paid. including thc eXpen-
ses of the president while actually en-
gagged in the work OF promoting or
building roads. with no salary to him.
Colonel Harvey gets his enjoyment
out of his services in what he terms
character building" Building good
roads and good character are to him
synonymous terms. Buc for the best re-
suits i'm the paramount feature Il his
propaganda. IN his judgment. the
roads should he built bv the people
whom they arc intended to serve,
without bond Issues, and with the aid
Of only such revenues as come into
the treasury thru the usual sources OF
taxation for that purpose p,us contrl-
buttons OF money and labor. 1t is the
giving Of service. contributing some
thing of value to the government in-
stead Of taking something from il that
makes for the building of a tettei
citizenship. It's the spirit that enters
Snto the business of doing something
for the common good that Is worth
while. its the pride of viewing work
we'll done that counts. On the other
hand, he argues that bond issues
mostly, not always, results in a con-
dition where the men who dc the work
Of road building. instead of keeping
the common good In sight. seek tn get
all they can out of 1t with as little
work as possible. The spirit that
builds character is gone: the spirit
of giving is taken away, and only self
ishncss is left That, In his opinion
we have entirely too much of now for
the good Of our common country.
And so this Is where w. ii. Harvey
comes in. lie gets his satisfaction
In the results that contribute TO
higher and less selfish. and therefore
more desirable, civilization. To this
work he gives from five to seven
months of his time each year As n
result of this time and effort he has
been instrumental IN building more
than two thousand miles Of roads, and
AT this time has the pleasure Of wit
Messing more than that many more
practically all without the aid OF bond
issues, in the course of construction
Colonel Harvey firmly believes that
the only way in which this country
car remain the greatest and hest In
the world is by contributions of some
character TO the common good. never
losing sight of the fact that the gov
crnment Is no better than its citizens
make II.