The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-05
BETTER HO NJ E S.,
HIGHWAYS URGED
BY THE PRESIDENT
CONTINUED From PAGE one)

rural roads we nave until very recent
years made far less impressive
advance. Within two decades, how
ever, marking the beginning of the
motor age, our advance in this re-
spect has been phenomenal, making
it most fitting that a recognized CEN
ter OF the highway system should at
this time be set up.
Meeting OF Great Sections
1T is appropriate that our golden
milestone has been placed here in the
institutional center of the nation. 1t
marks the meeting place of the Lin
coin highway and the Lee highway of
the northern and southern systems of
the national roads. From 1t We may
view the memorial to Lincoln and the
home of Lee. 1t marke the meeting
point of those sections which once
grappled in conflict but now are
happily united for all time In the
bonds of national fraternity, of a
single patriotism and OF a common
destiny.
LAS We shall extend and improve
our highways, and more and more
adapt them to the methods Of trans
port which this age has so marvel
ously developed for US. we shall
strengthen year by year the ties of
mutual interest and interdependence
which united all our sections.
Modernize Roads.
But lying beyond this system of
modern highways are more than
100000 miles of roads whose serv-
ice is, though of great Importance,
essentially local. We must recognize
the obligation to modernize these
more remote sections Of the syste N
| to the fullest extent justified by
economic nj
transportation, by water, by rail. BY
highway or by airway. must be
drawn upon for maximum of the
particular kind Of service for which
1t is best fitted.
THE Importance Of a perfected
highway system as a measure of ma
tional defense has been profoundly
impressed upon us and must not be
overlooked The amazing mobiliza-
ton of the forces who only yester
day were fighting for civilization
was possible in no small part be-
cause the roads built by tho Caesars
were' still available for such tremen-
dous movements. II the time comes
when our own country has need for
a like mobilization in the national
defense, perfected system of high
ways will be one of our most power
full bulwarks."
Speaking at the better homes cere-
mony. the President declared that
the movement for better homes lis
movement for a better America"
1T is not so much the problem of
housing" he said, "as it is the prob
lem of increasing the home comforts,
of devising new conveniences, of ex-
panding that understanding of do
nestle science which must make for
the Improvement of American homes.
We have devoted much thought to
the improvement in production.
transportation and to thousand
things that make for the advance of
looked the fact that after all. the
greatest single industry in America
is the management of the American
home, where 20,000.000 women toll
every day of the year. $4,000 900 of
these women doing their own work
without help.
Aim of All Organization.
THE home Is at last not merely
the center but truly the aim, the OBJ
ject and the purpose of all human
organization. We do not seek to i'm
prove society In order that from
batter homes, we may bring forth
better servants of the state, more eff
ficient cannon-fodder for it's armed
forces. rather we seek to make bet
ter homes in order that we may
avoid the necessity for conflict and
turmoil, in our world. The nome Is
the apex and the aim. the end rather
than the means of our whole social
system. So far as this world knows
or can vision. there is no attainment
more desirable than the happy sSd
contented home.
The common man of yesterday
was serf peasant, bound to
tasks whose significance h edid not
know, and for whose results he had
small care. The common man of to-
day is a citizen. voter, sovereign,
truly participant in determining
the ends and destiny of the state. 1t
is the purpose of the Better Homes
movement to make possible a like
advance in the status of womankind.
I'VE are going to have such ad-
vancement in the mechanical appur-
tenances of the home. as will rep
resent real emancipation for wom-
en-. With that emancipation we shall
see women taking new, larger
and vastly more significant part In
those great determining activities of
life which henceforth must mark our
way toward releasing the best am
billions of social organization"