The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1920-07-08
A Billion Dollars
For Good Roads

NV w. F. Wilcox in Farm and Ranch)
A billion dollars for permanent good
roads this year in this country is quite
big program. Yet everyone agrees
that good roads are necessary with
6 800 900 motor vehicles registered,
40 per cent being owned and used by
farmers.
From the Bureau of Public Roads at
Washington, ID. c., comes the report
that there are funds available for the
construction of hard-surfaced roads in
the United Sites, in 1920 more than
three times greater than in any pre-
vious year. The United States depart
ment of agriculture estimates the
amount at $685.. 100000 and many lead
ing authorities believe the appropria-
tions will reach a final total of $1,000
100000 The previous maximum year
ly expenditure has never exceeded
5000, 1000, 900.
One authority shows that the aggre-
gate of bonds for this years road
work totals $772,O00,000, which is
more than the department of agricul-
lures estimate. One road expert IS
led to say: Tn the light of these OBJ
servations it is not therefore beyond
expectation and conservative state
ment to place the final figures for
work already authorized and that pro-
posed at grand total of over $4,000
600. The tremendous sum is indeed
complete answer to the question as to
whether our people have fully realized
the economic advantages Of highway
transportation
The nation is crying for good roads.
Forty per cent of the motor vehicles
in operation today Is owned and used
by farmers. Hence the need for good
roads in the country and to connect
up the farms with markets. With mil
lions of dollars invested in autos and
trucks to be used on rural roads, the
owners do not like TO see them stand
ing idle in the garage half the year be
cause of bad roads.
All statesmen are united in working
for good roads. William Jennings
Bryan says: 1.-THE time has come for
the systematic development of nation
al highways and the conclusion of
peace gives an opportunity to cele-
brate the ending of the greatest of
world wars by the building of mem
orial peace way, reaching into every
state and forming a commercial bond
of union between the commonwealths
of the nation. 1t would greatly re-
lieve the railroads by furnishing a
roadway for both passenger and freight
traffic"
Herbert Hoover, former federal food
administrator, has said that so per
cent of the perishable food produced
on the farms In the United States new
er reaches market. Hundreds of mil
lions of dollars are annually wasted
because our present method Of trans
portation is so antiquated, costly and
at times impossible, it does not pay
to move this food from the farm to
an area of consumption.
The benefits that follow in the
wake of good roads as demonstrated
by improved farm lands and buildings,
shiftlessness changed to progressive
activity, better schools and churches.
more intimate social intercourse,
greater civic interest and better living
conditions, are of incalcnla6le value
and powerful arguments for good
roads.
Communities are taking pride in
their road building programs. Bun
combe county, North Carolina, OF
which Asheville is the county seat,
makes valuable use of the slogan:
THE best paved county in the South"
and supports its claims with data
When all communities, states and the
whole nation take pride in their good
rods, we will have good roads. I'm
passable roads must become a thing of
the past. II is waste of good money
to throw 1t into temporary road work;
let's make them permanent