Li
Dr ary
Chapel Hill
The news in this publica
tion is released for the press on
receipt.
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA
NEWS LETTER
Published weekly by the
University of North Carolina
for its Bureau of Extension.
APRIL 10, 1918
CHAPEL HILL, N. C.
VOL. IV, NO. 20
Editorial Board i E. 0. Branson, J. GI. deli. Hamilton, L. R. Wilson, R. H. Thornton, G. M. McKie.
Entered as second-class matter November 14,1914, at the Postofflce at Chapel Hill, N# C., under the act of August 24, 1912.
LIBERTY BONDS SAVE LIVES
GETTING RICH IN CAROLINA
So far the people of North Carolina
have invested 37 million dollars in liberty
loan bonds and another million in war
savings certificates. It is just so much
laid away against a rainy day. It is al
most exactly double tiie total bank ac
count savings in our banks of all sort.s the
year the world war began. On top of
that we have given three millions more to
th(', Ked Cross and the Army Y. M. C. A.;
which is treasure laid away beyond the
reach of moth and rust. Moreover the
cost of living has more than doubled dur
ing these four years.
But have we gone bankrupt? Not yet!
As a matter of fact, we are richer today
than we ever were before in all our his
tory.
Our bank account savings have not
been wiped out by war taxes, by the in
creased .cost of food, fuel, clothing and
ehdter, by our free gifts to the Red Cross,
the Army Y. M. C. A , and other war
purposes. On the contrary, they are
larger than ever before by 13 million dol
lars. They are now' 35 million against 22
million dollars in 1914. Nor has our pur-
diase of liberty bonds and war savings
certificates absorbed our bank account
sivings; we invested 35 million in these
two forms of thrift, and at the same time
put more money than ever into the lock-
boxes of tlie banks for safe-keeping.
In otlier words, instead of having 22
million dollars on savings account in the
banks as in 1914, -our savings today
amount to 73 million dollars—35 millions
in the banks and 38 millions in liberty
bonds and war savings certificates. We
are nearly three and a half times better
ofl than we were w'heii this dreadful war
began—if you look at it in a cold blooded
bu.nness way.
No Brass Bands Needed
Itut this is not all. Our farm crops in
1917 were worth 375 million dollars more
than ill 1910. That’s how much richer
oui farmers are. The bank deposits on
o^ien account in our state banks alone are
nearly 20 million dollars more tlian they
were last year—nearly 50 millions more in
both state and national banks.
At; for automobiles, we own 60 thousand
of them, worth—says the Secretary of
State—36 million dollars. What we have
invested in automobiles in ten years is
more than we have invested in church and
Bcbooh properties in two and a half cen
turies—more by nearly 5 million dollars.
,, Oh yea, we are rich—rich enough to ab
sorb our share of the new liberty loan
and never bat an eyelid.
Indeed the increase in our state bank
resouLces alone, in a single year, is 35
million dollars—which happens to be al
most exactly what North Carolina needs
now to invest in the new Liberty Loan
issue and in Thrift Stamps.
North Carolina is rich enough to buy
45 million dollars w'orth of the.se new
bonds, and we can do it without the blare
of brass baiids.
AVe can eat our cake and have it, three
t'uics over, just as we did last year.
A WORD OF PRAISE
'J’h? Banker Farmer out in Illinois gives
a jiage in the March issue to an item re-
pi iiite'd from the News Letter of the Uni-
voBity of North Carolina—“a living,
Irealbiiig weekly which every hanker in
tile state, not to speak of the country at
1 irge, ought to read,” says Mr. Louis M.
Tobin, the editor.
'‘Olitain a quantity of this issue and
snid a marked copy to the rural teachers.
See tiiat your county superintendent and
other fc’iool oflicials read it. Every
t'icher—espedaiiy the more isolated
t'achemiu the open country—ought to
read it, ” he adds in a special note to the
b.mkci3 of flliuois.
OUR GREAT DUTY
As we go aliout our daily lasks.in pei ce
and safety men are dying every minute
Oil the battlefields of Europe to save civil
ization. Our own gallant soldiers are
shcddiiig their blood in 'France and. our
sailors are engulfed in the waters of the At-
1 mtic as they go lu defense of xiiuerica’s
righto and lionor,
Upon our performance of the work
coininitted to us depend the lives of
thousands of men and women, the late
of many nations, the preservation of civ
ilization and humanity itself; and if we
do our full duty by the Liberty Loan the
more quickly will this war come to an
end and the greater (he number of our
soldiers and sailors who w’ill be saved
from death and suffering and the greater
the number of the people of other nations
released from bondage and saved from
death.
To work, to sav6j to economize, to give
financial support .to the Government is a
duty to the Nation and to the world, and
it is especially a duty to our fighting men
who on land and sea are offering their
lives for their country and their country
men.—Liberty Loan Bureau.
WHAT WE FIGHT FOR
“All sections today are knitted together,
which will be of vast benefit long after
the war,” says Charles Evans Hughes,
once Republican nominee for the presi
dency. ‘ ‘AVe are today fighting for the
principle of democracy. We are testing
this democracy with-an acid test. Our
decision will be regarded as just because
it will be spoken by a people who have
free speech, a free platform and a free
press.
“It is useless for any one to delude him
self that peace with negotiations will be
efl'ettive. Germany is obsessed with the
idea of world power and world dominion.
We must use all man-power, all available
powers of organization and we must oji-
pose this foe until we have a temple where
liberty and justice shall reign and where
international rights shall not be dese
crated.
“We must realize that this is a very se
rious time; we must realize t’nat a nation
wliich cannot defend the principles on
which it was formed, is not destined to
endure, and a nation which is unwilling
to fight for its iiriiiciples, cannot endure.”
THE HOME-GARDEN ARMY
President Wilson
I sincerely hope that you may be suc
cessful through the bureau of education
in arousing the interest of teachers and
children in the schools of the United
States in the cultivation of home gardens.
Every lioy aud girl who really sees what
the home garden may mean, I am sure,
will enter into the purpose with high
spirits, because I am sure they would all
like to feel that they are in fact fighting
in France by joining tlie liome garden
army. They know that America has un
dertaken to send meat and flour and
wheat and other foods for the support of
the soldiers who are doing the fighting,
for the men and women who are making
the munitions, and for the boys and girls
of western Europe, and that we must also
feed ourselves while we are carrying on
this war.
The movement to establish gardens,
therefore, and to have the cliildren work
in tliem is just as real and patriotic an
effort as the building of ships or tlie firing
of cannon. I hope that this spring every
scliool will have a regiment in the volun
teer war garden army.
AFTER THE SECOND SOMME
An enervating idea prevails that it the
present German onslaught is pinned
down, Germany will forthwitli quit.
Should lier leaders not tlien be ready to
come to terms tlie people would revolt
and force tliem to.
Few ideas rigid now are more 'danger-
rous and more probably wrong.
Consider your own feelings wlien you
permit yourself to think of the German
onrush checked. You experience a sense
of relief and of relaxation. There is a
slackening in tlie liopes that go to bed
witli you and get up witli you and follow
you about all day. AVliat you feel, tlie
otliers feel, tlie nation feels. AAdieu tlie
Germans are definitely stopped—if tliey
are stopped—tliis feeling of relaxation
will increase. And relaxation is the
motlier of demoralization.
Not that relaxation liasn’t its times and
places. But would a German clieck on
the Somme he one of tliese? It would
not. Tlie Entente press has lieeii com
paring wliat we may call the Second
Somme to A^'erdun. And it lias made tlie
GOD SAVE THE PEOPLE
Tliere is no mistaking tlie fervor
ami grim patriotism witli which tire
people of Great Britain sing, Rule
Britannia, and God Save the King,
in tlie churclies and on every public
occasion; but even more impressive
is tlie new deep note of national con
sciousness tliat sounds in a song that
the English multitudes are singing,
writes a friend now in London. He
heard it first on Tower Hill tlie other
Saturday afternoon and again in a
score of groups on Sunday around the
Marble Arch in Hyde Park. It is
God Save the People, and this song of
English democracy is sung to the tune
of Commonwealth. Here it is.
Allien wilt Thou save the people?
0 God of mercy, when?
Not kings and lords, but men!
Flow’rs of Thy heart, 0 God, are
they:
Let them not pass, like weeds, away.
Their heritage, a sunless day,
God save the people!
Shall crime bring crime forever,
Strength aiding still the strong?
Is it Thy will O Father,
That man shall toil for wrong?
No! Say Thy mountains;
No! Thy skies;
Alan’s clouded sun shall brightly rise
xAnd songs ascend instead of sighs,
God save the people!
AA'lien wilt Thou save the people?
0 God of mercy, when?
The people, Lord, the people;
Not thrones and crowns, but men!
God save the people;
Thine they are,
Tliy children, as Thine angels fair
From vice, opprefeion aud despair!
God save the people!
comparison as though the outcome
would mean for the xAllies a crushing de
feat or a final victory. The former it
might be; the latter—not unless the
Allied victory became a German rout.
Remember the German explanation of
A^erdun, which we scoffed at then. The
German High Command gave out that
A^erdun was undertaken with two object
ives: to break through—yes; but also,
by depleting French reserves to stall off
an Allied offensive for the rest of the
summer. The German leaders claimed
that tliey attained this second objective,
and that this attainment alone justified
their sacrifice of life. Now, whether or
not this explanation was a true one, tlie
German people accepted it.
xA similar double objective has been at
tributed by military experts to the pres
ent German attack: they mean to break
through if they can, but through or not
tlirough, tliey mean to use up the Allied
reserves. That interpretation follows tlie
best German military tradition: Keep
tlie offensive; it gives tlie advantage of
position, and ultimately it costs no more
tliau the defensive.
A German victory would mean the end;
a German check would leave Germany
anotlier winter for the employment of
lier diplomacy, for inachinatioiis in the
East,for re-organizing as much of Russia as
she can conqueror compel to her bidding.
The Second Somme is not necessarily tlie
final tlirow; it is either the end of the
war or the beginning of a new phase
of it—perliaps the Far-Eastern phase.
But a German revolution following from
anything sliort of a German rout seems
inevitable only to those who still believe
in the Jekyli-and-Hyde Germany, the
Germany of a wicked Kaiser and a good
but misguided people,—tlie Germany
tliat nobody who ever lived tliere believes
in for a single moment.
A German clieck on the Somme will
not start a revolution in Germany;' nor
will'it bring a cliange of heart. No use
to expect a cliange of heart, anyliow; tlie
best tliat can be hoped for is a cliange of
hide. Germany has been raised by tlie
stick,' and lier hide is tough. The Fln-
tente will literally liave to Hay lier alive;
and tlien, ten to one, the new epidermis
will liave tlie Hohenzolleru spots on it.—
John AI. Booker, N. 0. University Fac-
culty.
GO TO WORK OR GO TO JAIL
“Tlie best way to draft farm labor,”
.Assistant Secretary of Agriculture Cl ir-
ence Ousiey said not long ago in an ad-
I dress before tlie Texas legislature, “is to
' amend your vagrancy law so as to in-
i elude witliin its terms every 'able-bodied
man who does not do six days’ work each
week as a rule.’’
In many states of tlie Union, either by
state legislation or local action,* steps
have been taken or plans are under way
to require idle men to go to work. Far
mers know they can not increase their
food-crop production unless tliey have
more labor. Townspeople know they
will suffer inconvenience or want and
have to pay very liigh prices for the re
duced rations they are able to buy, if tlie
farmers do not increase production. And
botli farmers and tow nspeople know, as
all the world knows, that we can’t win
the war unless we have ample food. So,
states and counties and the towns the
country over are determining that tliis is
not a time, nor theirs a place, for the
toleration of idlers.
For instance, a few weeks ago the sher
iff of Grayson county Texas, a thickly
settled and highly productive agricultur
al section, announced in the Sherman
papers and by posted proclamations that
“every man must go to work.” This
sheriff didn’t wait for the state legisla
ture to enact new laws. The old ones are
strong enough to suit him. ‘ ‘Go to work
or go to jail,” he said crisply. “No
man will be allowed to loaf around this
town or in this county, because we are at
a point where every man’s labor is serious
ly needed for the farms.”
AA^hat about your county? AA’hat about
your state? Are you requiring loafers to
become producers? . AAJiile your sons
fight in France will you permit husky
men to remain idle in your community,
when you know their labor will produce
food without which we can’t win the
war—without which your sons fight in
; vain?—AVilmington Star.
WAR AND ROADS
Road building in many' countries orig
inated as a military necessity. History
tel’s us that the Romans built roacs on a
more extensive scale tlian any of tlie
other nations. AVhat was the motive?
It was clearly a military motive that
caused road building to be a state policy
in the Roman Empire. The Romans
realized that roads were an absolute ne
cessity in the conduct of tlie war. Tlie
construction of their roads continued to
such an extent tliat at the end of the
year 200 B. 0., tlie total system in the
Roman Empire, about 48,500 miles, tra
versed all of Europe and the northern
part of Africa.
The French Road System
The French road system, considered
tlie finest and most complete in the
world, originated in the lime of Napoleon
to help carry out his military expeditions,
and was planned and constructed pri
marily for military purposes.
AVhen the war started France had over
371,000 miles of roads, almost exclusive
ly of the waterljound macadam construc
tion. The French road system is classi
fied as (1) national roads, the trunk
routes 60 feet wide with a macadam sur
face 24 feet in width; (2) departmental
roads, those main routes 42 feet wide
with macadam surface 18 feet in width;
(3) secondary roads, including the coun
ty and country roads, 27 to 30 feet wide
with macadam surfaces 9 to 12 feet in
width.
The Freucli road system has met the
military situation well. The roads have
saved France, i^ie following teclinical
features have proven of especial advan
tage; (1) easy grades, (2) excellent drain
age systems, (3) good foundations, (4)
good width, (5) high ratio of road mil
eage, (6) road signs, (7) easy mainte
nance.
The Big Problem in France
The French road system is so complete
that it has been unnecessary to build
new routes except in a few places to
avoid shell fire, this being accomplished
by locating the road on the leeward side
of tlie hill. The big problem lias been to
keep up and maintain tlie old roads un
der the tremendous traffic tliat must con
tinuously go over tliem.
Luring tlie attack at A'erdun, one
road 50 miles in lengtli liad to witli-
stand a continuous procession of about
5000 motor trucks every 24 hours. On
tlie main feeders to the front four solid
lines of veliicles moved every day in almost
continuous procession. Under traffic of
such great intensity, tlie roads have worn
\ery rapidly. It has been absolutely
necessary to repair the roads at once in
some makeshift fashion without inter
rupting traffic. The lioles have been
filled with broken stone or with what
ever material was available, and traffic
packed it doivn. It is very interesting
to note in tfiis connection that tlie water-
bound macadam, the prevailing fype of
road surface in France, lends itself ex
tremely well to the demands of war. In
none of the other types of modern pave
ments can repairs be made in such a
simple manner under excessive traffic
conditions. It is said that 1,000,000 men
are now employed in maintaining tlie
roads of France.
Road Building in Italy
Tlie absolute necessity of roads for mil
itary purposes was well illustrated in the
ftalian campaign against Austria. Near
the frontier there were only a few narrow
roads. It is reported that the Italians
had to build 4000 miles of new roads in
order to keep their armies supplied with
food and ammunition.
England’s Experience
Road improvement in England and
AVales is now being carried on more ex
tensively thaji ever before, not in spite of.
but because of the war. Tlie heavy traffic /
under the stress of war preparations has
demanded thicker foundations and better
surfaces.
Lessons for Home Use
If we profit by the experience of other
nations, then this war can have none
other than a stimulating effect on road
building in the United States. Alore at
tention is going to be paid to the plan
ning of a road system that will serve mil
itary as well as commercial purposes. It
is true that every road over which food
and supplies can be transported readily
is of military importance, but there are
in addition certain roads wliich should be
built for military purposes regardless of
wliether or not tliey would be warranted
on tlie basis of commercial needs. A
number of such routes have been suggest
ed liy military authorities, such as the
roads connecting camps or leading to
forts or other points of military ■ import
ance, a road along the eastern coast (one
along the western coast is already built),
and another along the Alexican border,
and numerous radial roads connecting
places of supply witli selected points of
defense.
The requirements of a military road do
not differ materially from those of a
modern commercial highway. The heav
iest ordnance load weighs no more than
tlie largest present day commercial truck.
The requisites for the wearing surface of
a military road are as follows; (1) abso
lute dependence in all seasons of the year,
under the most severe usage; (2) wear
resistance to prevent extensive or fre
quent repairs; (3) ease of repair without
interrupting'traffic, and with simple tools
and materials; (4) low tractive resistance;
and (5) a good foothold for horses and a
good grip for rubber tires, and at the
same time enough smoothness to allow a
good rate of speed for motor trucks.
Government Policies
The policy which the Department of
Agriculture recommends and urges for the
road building program during tlie year
1918 is as follows: the maintenance of the
roads already constructed; tlie construc
tion and completion of tliose highways
vitally important because of their bearing
upon the war situation or upon the move
ment of commodities; the postponement
of all road construction relatively less es
sential or not based upon important mil
itary or economic needs.
AA’e are obliged to conclude that the
government wislies to encourage rather
tlian retard road building in general dur
ing the war, because practically every
road tliat is contemplated will fall in the
first two groups mentioned; that is, it will
be based upon important economic or mil
itary needs. If we.classify our roads as
(1) commercial, (2) smilitary, and (3)
tourist, only the last class could be con
sidered for postponement according to the
policy of the Department of Agriculture.
The writer believes that we cannot
carry out completely our sclieme of pre
paredness unless large appropriations are
made by tlie government for a system of
national liighways planned in cooperation
with the AA'ar Department to serve pri
marily military needs in case of war and
economic needs in times of peace.—T. F.
liiikerson, Department Civil Engineer
ing, University of N.. 0.