The Washington times., 1922-09-01
High Prices For Food
Blamed On Wretched
Roads BY w. k. Cooper
President Of Rotary Club As
serts Poor Highways Also
Retard Development Of Sub
urban Sections.

Lack OF good roads leading out
OF Washington is responsible in a
measure for high food prices in
this city and for the retarded de.
velopment of suburban sections. de.
clares William Knowles Cooper.
president of the Rotary Club OF
Washing on.
Mr.. Cooper declares that lack Of
good highways has prevented the
institution of the roadside market
system which plays q large part In
the life Of many American cities.
THE automobile has come within
the reach Of men In every walk of
life. The highways are therefore
the concern Of everybody, not mere.
ly the privileged few" said Mr..
Cooper. Proper highways leading
out Of this city would mean a de.
cided increase in the amount of
suburban building and a decrease
in the cost Of farm produce in
Washington.
Returns After Trip.
"The roadside market has come
into its own In the farming dis
tricts surrounding many Of our
cities and towns and 1t should be a
prominent factor In the life of
Washington. Improvement of our
highways would undoubtedly result
in a sufficient increase in traffic
to warrant the establishment Of a
number Of these aids to lower
prices"
Mr.. Cooper has Just returned to
Washington from n six weeks trip
through the Western section of the
country, where he was impressed
by the good roads and the hearty
aid given the automobile tourist by
the various communities.
Many Of our Congressmen don't
realize how deeply their constituents
are interested in Washington" he
said. They may think that their
neglect of this city will have no
bearing with their folks at home.
They are badly mistaken II they do.
American citizens in all parts of
the country expect Congress to
make this city the best in the
country. They expect to find II
the easiest to reach and the most
hospitable in it's reception Of Wis.
itors. 1t 10 neither. The roads
leading into the city are very poor
and our local tourist camp 10 sur.
passed by the camps in the small.
COL ClIitb III I1c west.
"Out there a healthy rivalry in
attracting automobile parties exists.
The camps are commodious and
comfortable affairs. In most OF
them electric lights. bungalows.
running water, open air fireplaces
and cook stoves are provided at
very nominal cost. Many have
dance pavilions and some even pro
vide full dance orchestras every
evening.
Tourists Are Welcomed.
I'm one town the leading news
paper devoted a full column every
day to the tourist camp. They
welcome and as a result the fame
Of their hospitality is spread far
and wide. That means a great deal
to any community.
Our camp here can't begin ito
compare with them. We have scant
means here to make the tourist
comfortable and II ceratinly doesn't
speak we'll for the hospitality Of
the city.
These people are deeply inter
ested in the condition Of the roads
eading into Washington. Every one
Of them is the constituent Of some
member Of Congress-. II we could
persuade these tourists to take up
the matter OF better roads and q
better camp in the District Of
Columbia with their own repre-.
sentatives think we would be
making a big step in the right d.
rection.
Washington is badly situated as
to highways, highways markers.
and camp sites for tourists.
And. speaking Of the question Of
highway markers. I want to say that
the Rotary Club right now has under
consideration a plan for the marking
Of highways leading into Washing
ton. The plan may be carried out
at any time.
Explains Rotary Plan.
"our plan 10 at first to mark the
principal highways leading into the
city from points many miles out Of