The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-08-23
CONGRESS WANTS
TO KNOW ABOUT
OUR HIGHWAYS

The cooperation of members of the
United States senate and house of rep
resentatives to the end that the high
ways transport committee be put In
touch so far as possible with situations
throughout the country in which ade-
quate facilities for the transportation of
farmland other products are lacking, is
being sought through letters addressed
to said members of congress, a copy
of which is hereby given for the in
formation of the region, state, district
apd local chairmen, and others inter-
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 onLthe part Of the highways trans
port committee has been accepted. 9th
er letters are to the effect that no sit
uation calling for action at this time
exists in the districts of the writer's.
The letter follows:
Investigation by the council of ma
tional defense through its highways
transport committee shows the increas-
ing 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 ex-
tend their lines. Thousands of tons. OF
f0odstuffs never reach the market, and
lands which rave been formerly culti-
waited have, in instances, been aban-
doned because Of the difficulty in mar
ketfng produce. All this results in the
continued high cost of foodstuffs in the
various cities.
1.-THE United States Railroad Admins
tration has been receiving many appeals
$3.50 AL~~.NaaAAaak thn nntNn-
try for rail transportation from points
not now served by railroads. These in
velve the construction of extension lines
which are not practical or advisable at
this time. 1t is therefore necessary for
the highways transport committee 70
investigate the possibility Of giving
theseI communities highway transporta-
tion.
I'm Union county, Arkansas, for ex.
ample, there were recently 100 bales OF
cotton lying on the ground in the gin
wards without cover. In this one county
there were over 1,400 bales OF cotton
and several carloads of cotton seed pro-
duced. This community Is without ade-
quate transportation.
"Another citizen Of Arkansas writes
us as follows:
"'Some of us are too far away from
the railroad. We start from nome with
wagon load travelling all day and night
and when we reach our destination we
find no local market.
I'VE raise the finest apples, peaches
and strawberries in the world and can
raise better cabbage than Western North
Carolina. What we need is auto trans
p~ortation in some sections
'In Carter and Fallon counties, Mon
tana, where railroad connections were
promised, several million bushels OF
grain are to be raised and the railroad
has for the second time been unable to
meet the request for rail connections.
This locality must be saved by high
ways transport and this committee Is
now taking the action necessary to bring
relief. ,
"The highways transport committee is
endeavoring to make a survey IN order
to find put how best to give rellel 10
such communities and your cooperation
is urged in assisting definitely to locate
those areas which are in urgent need OF
motor transportation. We take the ND
erty of suggesting to you the WISDOM
Of your having a survey MADE OF your
own district. either through the meolum
of a committee or through the agency
of the press, to the end that this office
may be notified of those districts IN
which action needs to be taken. we
know of no course which would be OF
more value assisting the council. OF ma
tional defense to render concrete aid
to those parts of the country when now
lack proper transportation faculties.
"As you know, the rail md electric
lines are In a serious financial condi-
ton and their expenses now must be
met either by government funds or In
creased rates. There seems to be an
opportunity to develop feeders for both
by penetrating areas without transpor.
tation and feeding the railroads and
waterways many thousands of tons
which now cannot be brought to the
market, .
ut the present time of such a serious
nature that 1t is the belief OF this com
mittee that instead of duplicating trans
portation and taking tonnage away from
tor truck must be utilized greatly to
increase tonnage and to assist the rail-
roads and waterways in making com
plete delivery.