The Newark journal., 1919-02-20
ROY M. CRAIG, Business Manager
Let's Quit AdUOcating and Do Some Work.

 able agitation in Arkansas for good roads, but very little constructive work.
 It is fact that in spite of all the agitation fer better roads in Independence county, the roads in this county are in worse condition than they have been in several years, and the same lamentabe condition exists in many other coun- ties in the state.
 The great obstacle to building good roads in Arkansas and especially in Independence county. is the fact that the people are unwilling to tax themselves to build roads. There is no lack of sentiment in favor of good roads-we all favor good roads-that is, provided they don't cost US anything.
 And right there lies the whole secret of why we haven't got good roads-we are nctwil- ling to pay the price
 It seems that we don't take into considera- ton the fact that good roads worth all they cost us, and more too
 Recently it was proposed to double the tax on automobiles, and great howl went up from all over the state.
 What is an automc bile worth to a man if the roads are impossible?
 Herbert Hoover, national food administra- tor, says that one of the serious problems that confronted him during the recent fosd crisis was the fact that fifty per cent of the perish able food products of the country spoil before they can be gotten to market.
 It is a national disgrace that large part of the people of the world suffer for food while we allow fifty per cent of the perishable food products to spoil because we are too indo- lent and shiftless tC provide transportation.
 Besides when we have good roads over the country one man with a truck will haul what now requires six or eight men and twelve or sixteen horses or mules.
 And these animals and men would be re- leased to produce the stuff to be hauled by another man with another truck
 Put it world wide or nationwide and this conservation of man power and horse power will not only double the production of the coun try but will get that production to market.
 Accepting true the fact that half what we pfoduee spells now because of bad roads and inadequate transportation facilities, we readily see that good roads alone will cause this country to produce three times what it now produces and get it to market.
 And nothing on this earth except good roads will bring about this condition
 With system of good roads in this coun- try, America alone can produce enough to feed the whole world and have some to spare. It is criminal neglect and inexcusable wanton waste that causes us to continue the old system of hauling our produce to market in old fash toned farm wagons through mud from six inch es to foot deep, when within the non-produc. tive hills around Us lie buried inexhaustible stores of rock for road making and upon ev. cry creek bed is sufficient gravel to make a highway to every farm house in Arkansas
 We say it is criminal neglect that We al low good roads making to be made secondary to anything in this country. Good roads pro- mote commerce, advance education bring civ 1lzation and through these advances of intel lectual and commercial developments really bring mankind closer to the creator
 Let's start good roads campaign in Ark ansas that will mean something besides "hot air and political propaganda