The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1918-11-21
NEED Of BETTER HIGHWAYS
IN THE WEST IS APPARENT

1PORILAND, oregon, Nov. 1S.-Man
cannot live alone-the few note
worthy exceptions who have robin
son-Crusoed" have merely given the
world some interesting tales, so l
take it as automatic that as long as
the earth is inhabited, man must
travel about from social and econ
omic necessity. We will cease to
need roads and cease to transport
ourselves and commodities when man
! kind ceases to exist, so why should
it be our everlasting lot to wallow
knee-deep through mud and almost
impossible roads in winter, and dur
ing summer be followed in all our
travels by an obnoxious cloud Of
dust? A road should not be con-
sidered for this generation alone, but
be factor of such prominence and
permanence as our present experience
teaches.
Let me briefly show how good roads
reflect values to farm lands when
transportation is available. A given
piece of land will produce crop that
requires of the owner an expenditure
for seed, fertilizer, labor, wear and
tear (depreciation) on tools, machin-
cry and implements; then the crop
moves to market and great factor in
the farmers profit will depend on the
cost and the promptness of this trans
pOICdClOu, Iilc ucC IcCuIu lTOul d ldIn
handicapped by lack of transporta-
ton is less than from one that has
it; transportation is a double-edged
sword-for it cuts the costs on the
return farm-needed articles as we'll,
such as groceries, seeds, etc. Before
the pastoral stage of man he depended
on what he could find; then by sub
DUNG living creatures he depended
on his flocks for food and clothing,
hot L.
then the agricultural stage came and
was an immensely important growth,
for man now learned to manage plants
and raise them at will; man now
ceased to roam about and settled in
one place; then came private owner
ship of land, increase in population,
the building of communities and the
growth of cities and finally the mar
ket.
The highways transport committee
of the council of national defense is
now well organized to encourage and
promote all endeavors to utilize the
to their full modern extent,
and to this end is now directing the
of highway rapid-motor
service. This is not necessarily pro-
duct of the war, but a delayed work
that would have been successful if
before this because of the
facilities available through the use of
modern trucks, and this conclusion
nas been proven sound by the salts
factory results obtained by motor
in support of the war.
Julius L. Meier, regional director of
he highways transport committee,
las begun a vigorous campaign to es-
,ablish dependable motor truck trans
3ortation based in many respects
lpon present government parcel post
delivery methods of the postoffice de-
)artment. He is checking up locali-
les that have motor truck lines and
hose where such facilities are now
acking. State Director Amos Benson
las been out checking conditions of
highways in localities that are now
,lanning the immediate establishment
# such rural motor express service,
md especially has he been active in
ausing the early completion of high
Ways that were begun this summer.
earnest response from the contractors
O comply with his wishes has been
,ratifying to him.
Chairman of district No 1, Fred A.
sasch, will leave in a few days to
make a study of the conditions with
view to establishing receiving sta
ions at the road functions to the main
highways, and at the farmers prem
ses, so there will be prompt receipt
nd dispatch of all commodities ship
ed or delivered.
Facilities should be arranged so
hat farmer who puts any produce
n his shipping platform with in
tructions to the carrier may return
} his farm and continue his work
,ithout any need for personal ex-
hange of felicities.
The motor express service will stop
ut a moment and be on its way. The
srmer may put in the box a request
IL merchandise to be purchased for
nd in this wise he can order meats
fish with as much ease as if living
the city and having available mar
It home deliveries.
Mr. Herbert Mum, state highway
lgineer, is giving his earnest CO.
,eration to this work, and in view of
e termination of the war it looks
if road building will be major
dustry very soon, until both city
i'd country reap the full advantages
such service as only good roads
n give.
Mr.. Julius L. Meier, director of
ghways committee, is just In re-
ipt of telegram from Edward N.
arley, chairman of the United States
tipping Board, in which he urges
newed action and vigor in all
that pertain to motor
lck transportation. He says:
"Food must begin to move soon
om every hill through every valley
the great country behind our shores
wn to the shipping points before
can start our ships from the ports
d fulfill our duty, and with the
omise of the wars end before us
2 highways transport committee
roughout this land could and should
lder time service by stim-