The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-01-13
WHAT IT MEANS
TO KANSAS
(By J. Frank Smith. President Kansas Good
Roads AssOciation-l


1t is generally conceded that Road
Legislation will be one of the most
important, if not the most important,
proposition before the coming ses-
sion of the Legislature. 1t has been
so for many years, or at least should
have been. But sad as 1t may be
Kansas does not have law under
which the people of any county or
community may successfully build
365 day roads, of whatever kind or
character, and distribute the cost in a
fair manner. For this reason Kan
sas people have not improved their
roads to any degree of permanency
up to this time. There are a dozen
or more State or National Highways
crossing Kansas and the officers and
friends of these roads have tried
hard, but in vain, to raise the funds
to build something better than dirt
roads Many of them have started
with faith and enthusiasm but when
the farmers on either side of the
highways were asked to pay 70 per
cent of the cost and the towns and
railroads, telegraph and telephone
lines were found to be entirely eX-
empt from any part of the special
road tax, they found 1t could not
be done.
If Kansas does not get road laws
at the coming session that are better
than she now has her road boosters
viii only be able to talk roads" for
another two years, and there has
been plenty of talk" already. If
the platform of the Kansas Good
Roads Association is enacted into law
at the coming session as 1t IS hoped
will be done, Kansas viii ."Bulld
Roads like other states. In fact
our state is so far behind most Of the
states that we will have to build rap
idly to catch up
Here are a few reasons why every
friend of good roads for Kansas
should help to secure the enactment
of this platform -
1st 1t will enable Kansas to CO
operate with the Federal Government
in building County, State and Ma
tional Highways within cur state and
there will be no question about get
ting our portion of the Federal ap-
preparation for good roads.
End. The Government wants to
play the part of a Parent" in aid
ing his children, but the children
must do certain things. When this
Federal program is well under way
and our people see and use these
good roads, it will educate and stimu-
late them for more of the same kind.
3rd. 1t will give Kansas a High
way Commission that will put new
life and vigor into our road work and
demand a more efficient and eco
nomical system of road building and
maintenance. 1t will establish stand
ards of roads, culverts and grades
and improve the general system of
road work.
4th. 1t will give the people better
dirt roads and save money by com
pulsory upkeep and thus save the
roads from destruction on account
of neglect.
9Th. It will enable the people of
any other county or district to de-
eide among themselves the question
of building any kind of hard surfaced
roads, either by special tax or bonds,
and allowing every dollar of property
IN the county or district to pay its
share of the cost, according to bene-
fits derived.
9Th. It will enable the officers
and boosters of each of the State
and National highways crossing Kan
sas to organize by counties or dis
tricts and improve these roads. With
out better road laws Kansas viii be
a "dirt(y link" in every National
highway that crosses her border for
two years more. This viii be the
last state of all to do its part IN this
great movement to build up a sys-
tenn of National Highways.
9TH 1t viii permit the state, coun-
ties and cities to work their prisoners
on the roads and thus get results
from the labor of many men who are
now allowed to lay IN prison and rot
morally, mentally and physically
when they would benefit the roads,
the state and themselves by working
on the highways
9Th Federal statistics and the
common experience OF states and
kinds prove that the most economical
road for the farmer Is the 365 day
road. Schools are better attended.
community centers are more popu-
lar, the cost of marketing all kinds
of farm products smaller and profits
larger, farm life IS more attractive
to the boys and girls and holds them
to the farms, and general conditions
better where country roads are pass
able IN comfort 365 days IN the year
When the farmers are happy and
prosperous IF good roads viii help
bring these conditions every Kansas
community should start building
them as soon as possible. Give them
the right kind Of read laws and the