Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-01-19
Georgia Part IN the Great
Era of Highway Building

b
the year 1922 what a competent OBJ
server describes as the greatest era
of bodybuilding in the history Of the world"
By greatest is meant, not only the sums
of money to be expended and the mileage to
be constructed, but also the character OF the
undertakings and the quality Of public inter-
est supporting them. The promised expendi-
lures themselves bulk to immense proper
lions. For improved highways and streets
there will be available in the course Of the
twelvemonth, according to safe estimates, up
wards of one billion one hundred and twen-
ty-f1ve million dollars. Seventy-fve millions
are provided in the new Federal Aid road
measure; liberal appropriations or bond is
sues from most Of the States are assured;
and from thousands of counties and towns
will flow goodly tributaries to the general
stream.
OF the South's part in these vast OUTLAWS
Mr.. H. l.. Bowlby, president Of the American
Road Builders Association, writes in the cur
rent Manufacturers Record: Recent proV1-
sions by the Legislatures of North Carolina,
Missouri, and other Southern States have ad-
vanced the South in the matter OF good
roads. Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Texas,
Louisiana and South Carolina promise to de-
velop big programs within the next year or
two. North Carolina is providing bond is
sue Of fifty Million Missouri has authorized
one amounting to sixty million: South Caro-
lima is contemplating fifty million. New Mex
leo, Tennessee, and Kentucky are gradually
taking up the good work."
AS great agricultural region the South
has a peculiarly vital stake in the good
roads cause. Her defects and limitations in
this sphere Of service entail wastes OF many
millions year in the hauling OF crops, to
say nothing of losses to business and OBJ
structions to progress. Farmers realize more
and more keenly how important it Is that
their roads be not merely passable but be
the best which money and engineering skill
can construct and maintain. That they have
arrived at this conclusion is owing partly to
their wide adoption of motor transport.
A study Of Census reports for the year
1920 shows that upwards of one hundred and
| thirty-nine thousand motor trucks are en-
ployed on one hundred and thirty-one thou
sand five hundred farms. '"The corn belt
States" says the summary, "are the leading
purchasers of trucks, but the demand every
where becomes increasingly heavy. There
are now two million one hundred and forty
six thousand passenger automobiles in use
on one million nine hundred and seventy
nine thousand farms" To these impressive
figures add that more than thirty per cent
of the farmers of this country now own cars
while more than two per cent own trucks,
and then ponder the following record "Of
the 6,44S,366 farms in the United States, g.
925,09 or 60.9 per cent, are now operated
by their owners; 68,525, or IL per cent by
hired managers, and 2,454,746, or 3S.1 per
cent, by tenants. In 1910, 62.1 per cent of
American farms were operated by owners,
O.9 per cent by managers aud 81 per cent by
tenants. In 1890 the tenantry comprised only
% per cent. American farmers have invest
ed $4,000, 100000 in gas-propelled vehicles
Nearly 100000 tractors are now being used
on the farms Pennsylvania farmers lead in
adopting the motor truck. Eight thousand
seven hundred and sixty-one motor trucks
are now in use on PENNSYLVANIA farms New
YORK stands second with $3.50 and Ohio third
with $3.50. Pennsylvania farmers also own
nearly 100000 automobiles and 5000 trac-
tors. There are 202, 900 farms in that state"
The last decade has witnessed remarkable
gains Of this kind in Georgia and neighbor-
ing States; and although at this juncture, be-
cause OF the money-crop reverses of 1921,
the motorizing Of Southern farms marks
time, it doubtless will be resumed with fresh
vigor.
Naturally, then, the demand for better
roads will grow wider and more insistent
throughout this agricultural empire, of
which Georgia is the heart. Our Common
wealth, largest in area of any east of the
Mississippi, needs must have Statewide sys-
tenn OF roads that are not merely fair, but ex-
cellent II we are to develop our vast re-
sources Alright and are to keep abreast of
the nations new era of highway building,
| the greatest in the history of the world"
Adequate and excellent roads there must be
it we are to attract our due share Of the
home-seekers and investors whom the next
ten or twenty years will bring pouring into
the South, and If we are to deal Justly with
the great social interests which look to
transport facilities for much of their enrich
ment and advancement. These and other
matters OF great moment are bound I'D in
the proposed State bond issue for highway
extension and improvement. The bonds must
come. II Georgia is to prosper and progress.