The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-06-08

washington. D. G.. June TN
the life OF Amos Grant Batchslder.
who WAS killed . few days ago With
six others In the fafl Of Z Giant
government airplan6. the Whole
wondeffal fonaAce Of modetn pef-
sonal tfansportAsioa was option
lied.
1t Is 1 striking proof Of the spesd
with which tilne and space have
been conqilered IN this country that
one young man, who played . led
ing part IN that conquest. began
with the first crude bicycle, saw
the whole Development Of that ma
chine and Of the automobile, and
lost his life In an afrpfans.
Al = ten-year odd boy, going from
his farm homo IN New York state
before dawn every morning to meet
the train and get his newspspers to
distribute, he became convinced
that better reads were needed for
the benefit Of every community i'd
the United States. Stumbling
along In the darkness over rough
and rutted farm roads, little better
than the poorest neglected lane OF
today. the conviction grew In the
lads n.iad that money pat into
roads would help everybody.
This farmer newsboy turned
printers apprentice, but kept this
dream always before him, and the
development of it and its practical
application became his life's work.
Bachelor. the farm boy, who
combined selling newspapers with
his other chores to support his Wild
owed mother, made this good roads
dream a reality as chairman Of the
executive committee Of the Ameri-
can Automobile association-the
"A. A. A."
With his almost fanatical belief
in the necessity Of constructing and
maintaining good roads the country
over, Mr.. Batchelder became q pio-
neer in personal transportation. In
the old days of the bicycle-the
high-wheeled affair which preceded
the safety" bicycle, he was an
enthusiastic wheelman. This rec
reation fitted exactly IN with his
serious work Of forever preaching
and pounding away at good roads.
An Auto Pioneer.
When the automobile became a
practical reality, Mr.. BSchelder
turned to it with enthusiasm. In
the days when scoffers could see
no good In the novelty Of q self
propelled vehicle. Nj. Bachelor
was one Of those who had vision of
the future development OF the auto
mobile.
With the rapid and tremendous
growth Of the automobile, the ne
cessity of good roads became even
more of a religion with Mr.. Batch
elder. Even in the days when pro-
ponents Of good roads were spring
ing up everywhere, few could see
any reason why the federal govern
ment should participate in the Gre
alton Of better highways. Mr.. Batch
elder was the first to recognize the
part the federal government should
play. go
For years he worked and
preached for this. and was reward
ed when On July IL, 1916, President
Wilson signed the federal aid road
act, which brought the federal gov
eminent into road-building.
For years, right UP to the time Of
about 10000 miles each year, preach
about 1000 miles each year, preach
ing better roads everywhere
throughout the United States-for
military, economic, and other rea-
sons. Convincing state legislatures.
county commissions, and the pub
lie of the necessity Of building good
roads. and keeping them good, oc-
cupied q great deal of his time. As
result of his urgent advocacy, he
had been in practically every Sec
ton OF every state in the union.
Opportunities for more ltcra-
tive employment were repeatedly