The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1917-04-26
GOOD ROADS BILL
OPENS BIG FIELD
MONEY TO BE EXPENDED WILL
GREATLY AID FARMERS TO
REACH THE MARKETS
MANY STATES COOPERATING WITH AID
Constructing Network of Roads-Coun-
ty Officials Getting Into the
Game Everywhere

realizes that the year just closed has
been the greatest single accomplish,
ment in the cause of Good Roads since
the Revolutionary War.
When President Wilson on July IL
placed his signature to the Bankhead.
Shackleford Good Roads bill, $S5, 600
600 of federal funds and a like amount
to come from the various state treas
uries was dedicated to the cause of bet.
ter American highways. This means
that for the next five years - 1000, 600
will be spent annually in making the
road system of the United States com
parable or superior to the present fine
roads of Europe.
No more splendid tribute to the edu.
c%ational value of the automobile could
be paid than this action on the part of
Congress. Until the coming of the
motor car, the good roads issue pos
sessed little vitality. For seventy-five
years the government exercised a pass.
i've policy toward building permanent
highways. Railroads pushed into vir-
gin territory, cities sprang up along
the right of way, but the rural arteries
of travel remained in the same hope
less condition as when the pioneers
ploughed through them afoot or on
horseback.
With the first motor cars, came the
first feeble impulse to the good roads
movement. The first cars were sold
to city men who very quickly found out
that where city pavements ended,
there ended all hopes CT further travel,
Pneumatic tires availed nothing
against trackless stretches Of gumbo
mud or corduroy roads. With the me-
chanical improvements in motor cars
the M chafed at his limitations and
demanded better state roads. Many
states have been active toward promot-
ing their W road systems as a result
of this agitation and quito a little has
been accomplished in some localities.
But it has remained for government CO.
operation to open up the full possibili-
ties of the country by appropriating
this huge sum for road improvement.
Just what the federal aid bill will
bring business in general can only he
ci%njectured. That it will vastly bene-
fit the farmer in transporting his goods
to market is well known. And it
should work to reduce the high cost of
living by bringing food stuffs, hereto
fore destroyed or wasted because of
lack of communication with market
able points, to city markets where the
demand is great. One thing we are GER
tain of and that is a remarkable ex.
pansion in the business of American
automobile manufacturers.
People who have shaken their heads
over the future of the automobile in
dustry, have failed to appreciate the
magnitude Of American wealth. AS
President Wilson said in his address
on Good Roads at Indianapolis. "You
cannot know what the of
the country are unless the country is
covered owe with a network of roads
which will release ali the locked up
riches of all countrysides." Those who
have been connected with sales dis
tribution of motor cars in the past ten
years know that this statement is true.
We know that vast stretches of terri
tory practically isolated by lack of
transportation facilities, will be open
ed up with new roads and that the
development of the rich farming or
mining territory will create wealth for
a new class of pioneers.
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