The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-06-16
HIGH COST Of LIVING
AND TRANSPORTATION
Good Roads and Motor Service Essen.
tial to Success in Fight Against
ProfitecrinE.

| Washin gton, D. c., June 14-The
co Cooperation of mem bers of the United
states senate and house OF Represen-
tauves to the end that the highway
transport committee be put tn touch
so far as possible with situations
throughout the country, in which ade-
quate facilities for the transportation
Of farm and other products are lack
ing. is being sought through letters
addressed to said members OF congress,
copy Of which Is hereby given for
the information of the regional. state,
district and local chairmen. and others
interested.
Up to the time Of the issuance OF this
bulletin responses from members OF
congress have been numerous and in
several instances the cooperation Of
fered on the part OF the highways
transport committee has been accept
ed. Other letters are to the effect that
10 situation calling for action at this
time exists in the districts OF the
writer's
The letter follows.
Investigation hv the council of ma
| tional defense through its highways
transport committee shows the in
lcreasing seriousness of the lack Of ade-
quate transportation facilities in many
areas throughout the country. The
growth Of many communities has been
retarded because of this condition and
many communities which in the past
had hoped for rail transportation now
find that the railroads are unable to
extend their lines. Thousands OF tons
OF food-stuffs never reach the market
and lands which have been formerly
cultivated have, in many instances
been abandoned because of the difn-
Guilty in marketing produce. All this
results in the continued high cost of
food-stuffs in the various cities
The United States railroad admin
.stration has been receiving many ap-
peals from communities throughout
the country for rail transportation
from points not now served by rail-
roads. These involve the construction
OF extension lines which are not prac-
teal or advisable at this time 1t is
therefore necessary for the highway
transport committee to investigate the
possibility OF giving these communities
highway transportation.
I'm Union county. Arkansas. for ex-
ample. there were recently 100 bales
OF cotton lying On the ground in the
gin yards without cover. In this one
county there were over l.400 bales OF
cotton and several carloads of cotton
seed produced. This community is
without adequate transportation.
Another citizen Of Arkansas writes
us as follows:
Some Of us are too rar away from
the railroad. We start from home
with wagon load travelling all day
and night and when we reach our des-
tination we find no local market.
1--WE raise the finest apples. peaches
and strawberries in the world and can
raise better cabbage than Western
North Carolina What we need is
auto transportation in some sections
Tn Carter and Fallon counties,
Montana, where railroad connections
were promised. several million bushels
OF grain are to be raised and the rail-
road has for the second time been
unable to meet the request for rail
connections. This locality must be
saved by highways transport and this
Is now taking the action
necessary to bring relief
The highways transport committee
Is endeavoring to make survey in
order to find out how best TO give re-
lief to such communities and your CO.
operation In urged in assisting def-
nitely to locate those areas which are