The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1922-10-20
Good Roads.

The Board of Governors of the
Nashville Chamber of Commerce is
for good roads, in fact, the best roads
that can be built, but
The Board of Governors of the
Nashville Chamber of Commerce does
not cotton to the present road-build-
ing system, or lack of system, in Ten
nessee.
1t is inclined to favor a $75,000,-
900 bond issue for good roads, but it
will not favor such an issue until it
is assured that there will be a change
in the law under which our present
Highway Commission operates.
In other words, the Chamber of
Commerce directors want good roads
and they are in favor of raising the
money for the work, provided that
the money GOES INTO ROADS.
That, in effect, is what Mr. Austin
Peay, the Democratic candidate for
Governor, stands for.
He has told the people of this State
that he is for the best roads that it
is possible to obtain. but he will OPP
pose the expenditure of road funds
for other purposes than the BUILD
ING OF ROADS.
The Chamber of Commerce does
not go as far as Mr. Peay. 1t does
not say that there is too much pol
itics in the Highway Commission.
In fact, it refrains from making any
charges whatever against the COM
mission or from criticising the per-
sonnet of the department.
But what it leaves unsaid is as
strong as what it says. 1t Leaves the
impression with the public that there
is something wrong somewhere and
until that something wrong is righted
it will not lend it's endorsement to
road bond issue.
We have been consistent advocates
of good roads-peTmanent roads, If
such thing is possible. If not, as
near permanent as we can get. But
like Mr.. Peay and the Chamber of
Commerce we want to know that the
money is going INTO ROADS and not
irto salaries and expense accounts.
With Mr.. Peay Governor, there will be
a dollars worth Of road for every dol
lar appropriated for road building
Nashville Tennessean.
The above article from the Nash
vile lennessean shows that there
IS an inclination to discuss the pro-
posed bond issue of $75,0O0,OOO
tor good roads in Tennessee. This
should have been done some time
ago. 1t is also implied that lead
ing citizens are in favor of the bond
issue, provided there are restric-
tons whereby the money cannot
be squandered or wasted that will
cause it to be spent economically
for road materials and road con-
struction, and not by any means
freely for administration and engi-
neering.
Here The Commercial wants to
repeat this statement: The road
bond issue should have been and
should yet be discussed in this
campaign. 1t is important. | don't.
know anything else in Tennessee
as important as the investment of
100000 In good roads. Here
lies the reason: A referendum for
for bond issue of this character
will not reflect the wishes of the
voters of Tennessee because only
small percentage-very small in
deed-will go to the polls and vote
on any single issue.
Therefore, if there is merit in the
proposed road bond issue it should
be taken to the people in the pres
ent campaign. For the same rea-
son, if the road bond issue is not a
practical and worthy measure it
should meet the disapproval Of
the candidates for Governor and
the Legislature.
The Commercial wants to make
this avowal: That the most i'm
portant thing to the vast rural
areas and sections of the United
States is its public highways. Pub
lie schools and crop movements
depend upon the public highways. |
Agriculture and rural community
life cannot be revived without good |
roads. With good roads there may |
be return to the highest calling
and the most important industry