The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1919-01-16

i before Kansas is good roads, all
year-round permanent roads. The
one thing at this time which will do
most for the general welfare of Kan
sas and its people is the building of
such roads on a systematic, rational,
comprehensive plan. Just now moth
ing else means quite so much to Kan
sas progress. This is the next step,
the most logical step in our develop
ment. 1t is warranted as well as de-
manded by our increase of motor
roads and of motor transportation in
)getting our products to market at all
times Of the year.
Wars Demand Showed Needs
Turnout the United States this is a
coming nationwide development for
which forces have long been gather
ing, and which conditions have been
making more and more urgent. 1t
has taken our war needs to make us
realize sharply that we have out
grown our railroad facilities, that
these facilities have a limit. Railway
building must depend on the heavy
traffic, dense population and long
hauls. Railways cannot profitably
radiate thru countless country neigh
borhoods and the little market CEN
ters. They have about reached the
limit of their DEVELOPMENT in most
states. They can 20 little or no fur
Their except thru the double tracking
of existing lines and thru teamwork,
coordination and efficiency of opera
ton. The existing lines must now be
supplemented by trolley lines and by
motor truck transportation. And
permanent road building and motor
traffic comes first because all the peo-
pie may use the roads and the bene-
fits are more widespread and general.
The agencies for this new develop
ment are all here about us except the
roads. And now that this great
American nation is going to see such
an era of road building as no country
eyer experienced before, Kansas
must not lag behind, for the time is
ripe and the same conditions are here
and even more markedly here than in
many other comonwealths. I know
nothing else just now which is going
to do so much for rural America and
for the welfare of Kansas.
Wait on Development
In Kansas, to a great extent, our
further progress as a people now
waits upon this development. At
this time the building of permanent
roads on systematic, national plan,
is the one thing which will do most
for us as a state. Kansas now has
nearly 200,O 900 motor cars and trucks
representing an investment of nearly
5000, 100000. The yearly increase
of motor vehicles in Kansas runs in
to the thousands, and the daily oper-
alton of these trucks and cars has a
most important bearing on the pros
porous development of our farming
industry. These cars are ending the
isolation Of country life, while en-
HANGING all its wholesome benefits and
improving it's commercial education
al opportunities.
A system of state roads, connecting
all our market centers, will add new
life-blood to all our activities. 1t will
intensity production, bring better
prices, increase population, make bet
ter social conditions. 1t will anchor
ate or remove more adverse condi-
tions than any other agency.
Trend Has Been Upward
Kansas is no laggard. Our gen.
eral trend has always been upward.
We have led the nation in many in
now accepted without quail
ifications. We have an immense ter
ritory that needs linking together. 1t
was quite natural that our first con-
sideration should have been the con-
struction of towns, which included
court houses, public schools, educa-
tional and eleemosynary institutions
and libraries. Public utilities, such
as electric light plants, telephones,
water and sewer systems are preva-
lent turnout the commonwealth. We
are now confronted with the problem
of coordinating these centers.
An elaboration of system of high
ways which will make possible COM
at all times of the year
and in all kinds of weather, between
these trading points, means that those
living between and around them will
have an improved economic and So
cial life which will rebound to the
best interests of the state as a whole.
Commission Has Done Much