The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-08-23
Good Roads Proving One of
First Demands OF Soldiers
When They Return to States

hauled over dirt roads by wagons or
automobile trucks.
The interstate commerce commission
has gathered statistics regarding the
amounts Of freight hauled over the
railroads of America with a view Of
solving the problem OF transportation
n did not mention or offer any solu-
ton to h enormous amount Of trans
portation involved before the products
reach the railroads for TRANSPORTATION.
Up TO the present time all have failed
to get the vital facts necessary TO ac-
compllsh the end desired In road con-
structton and to successfully apply the
money appropriated for the federal aid
Of road construction and many states
have not enacted proper laws or have
failed TO institute the proper highway
commission and appropriate money
which Is necessary to receive the fed
eial aid.
The roads of America today are alb
solutely inadequate, inefficient and an
tiquated. They are not designed to
carry the heavy traffic now. What will
become Of them in the future? There
are over 2,750,000 miles of highways in
the United States. OF this AMOUNT,
less than 275, 900 miles have any form
Of surfacing whatsoever. The reports
by the department Of agriculture indi-
cate that the Increase in mileage Is
about $4,000 miles per annum, that is
new roads while about $4,000 miles are
being improved per annum Therefore.
the mileage of new roads is three times
greater than the amount surfaced
yearly.
1t is a vital problem, this question of
roads, one that reaches down into the
very foundation Of our social and eco
nomic scheme of life.
A national investigation into high
ways transportation by a federal high
way commission will provide this basis;
increased road funds will give us the
motive power.
France has spent millions on her
roads and spends thousands annually
maintaining them. What are the re-
sults2 Many people Of America come
here on their vacations, bring motor
cars and drive over the beautiful coun-
try. Each road, it matters not how
Of beautiful shade trees whose limbs
form an arch to protect its patrons
from the sun. These roads are perma-
nent, wide n continuous.
How many people Of America really
have seen america First 2" Why not?
Because we have not the roads that we
can use at our will with any degree of
pleasure and comfort, How many
tourists have motored in California or
seen Yellowstone National park, vis-
tied Roosevelt dam or motored through
the vast plains Of Arkansas or the
mountains OF tennessee n many
other points Of great interest over
there
Roads are the clearing houses for
the various states and the only means
Of free travel and much unlike the
railways, there Is at present little
| competition or choice of routes. There
should be alternative routes between
the same terminal points. This COM
petition can never be wasteful because
each will serve different districts en-
route; but this entire system must
have a centralized head and a small
body of men who are directly RESPONSE
BILE for the construction and mainte-
nance Of highways in each state, such
as France. To do this, 1t is necessary
to have a concerted organized effort,
This we do not have. We must have
IT, Permanent, all the year around
highways nay be called the normal re-
lation of the modern state to indus
try,
We are now faced again with a prob
lem for our national prosperity, educa-
ton and social intercourse, and the
immediate future demands that this
problem be overcome and II a only
be done by honest legislators. making
honest laws, placed in the hands OF men
who rave passed the test, by service in
the construction and maintenance OF
highways. Good roads mean extended
prosperity for America.