ROAD TO HAPPINESS [6-9],THE [GOOD ROADS PROMOTION] Part 2
Description
The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: [part 2] Young Bob seated at table talks with dad reading newspaper by light of a kerosene lamp. “‘This county can’t afford better roads. The taxes is high enough now. I know. I’m one of the commissioners.’” Family group conversing around kitchen table - mother sewing as discussion continues. “‘Never mind, Bob, tomorrow night we will go to the good roads meeting. Maybe that will help you.” Boy tries on trousers mother was sewing - sign, ‘Good Roads Meeting at the Town Hall’ - view of audience at meeting, of speaker. “Our least improved roads are often the most expensive. They take their toll in --” Views of speaker, audience - man rises from audience, speaks. “As a physician, I will say that the roads in this community are disgraceful. Right at the county line the other day I was…” Horse-drawn carriage mired in mud - man continues speaking - view of audience - another man rises from audience, walks forward and shakes hands with the speaker, audience leaves hall, leaves building. “Gee, I’m glad I got this book before I finished my essay.” Bob seated at table, reading - close-up of page with title ‘Basic Principles of Highway Management and Finance, by Thomas H. MacDonald, Chief of the U.S. Bureau of Public Roads.’ “‘So I say that we pay for improved roads whether we have them or not and we pay less if we have them than [if] we have not.’” Bob writes his report, close-up of last page with signature. “Robert’s essay wins a place in the heart of Roy D. Ghapin, Chairman of the Contest Committee.” Man reading essays, lays one aside, close-up of above last page with signature. “A letter for Bob is an event in the Preston family.” Horse-drawn mail delivery - woman feeding chickens goes to mailbox, brings letter to Bob seated beside barn - close-up of letter, of excerpt announcing that his essay won contest, he receives four year university scholarship. “Outfitted from head to foot a different Bob sets forth to claim his new honors.” Bob walks out of door of farmhouse, sets down suitcase. “‘Good-bye ma!’” “The village hero.” Two men at railroad station talk with Bob and his father. “‘Well, Bob, I’m glad to see you goin’ to Washington.’” Men conversing, railroad train approaches, passengers alight, Bob gets aboard, men wave goodbye. “Washington.” Bob leaves railroad station - Capitol - Bob standing in front of Capitol. “At the White House.” White House, President Calvin Coolidge and group of men on White House lawn. “President Coolidge awards Robert the scholarship in the presence of the Highway Education Board.” “‘My boy, it is a pleasure to present this scholarship. I congratulate you…’” “‘No expenditure of public money contributes so much to the national wealth as for building good roads.’” Group poses. “Robert begins to study highway engineering.” Students studying at tables, man talks to Bob. “Monthly meeting of the County Commissioners back home.” Men outside church building, around table in discussion. “‘We have a number of complaints about the road leading to the church.’” People on foot, horse-drawn carriage entering church yard - men in discussion. “‘I move that be laid on the table indefinitely. There’s a good detour around that road.’” “Robert makes the last year count.” Students in classroom with instructor, model of a bridge. “Four years of intensive study nearly ended, Robert seeks his first job.” Bob walks along street, sees sign on building, ‘U.S. Department of Agriculture. 513-515 Bureau of Public Roads.’ - he enters. “T.H. MacDonald. The Chief of the Bureau of Public Roads.” MacDonald shakes hands, converses with Bob. “‘I’ll give you a chance, my boy, but it will be hard work. You’ll have to go out in the field under all sorts of conditions.’” “Robert gets a vision of the backbone of America’s highways -- the Federal Aid Seven Percent System.” Highway map of the U.S. “‘First, I think you had better go over to Arlington and see some of the bureau’s highway research work.’” “‘Here, Preston, are the Bureau of Public Roads’ tests of different types of constructions, their wearing qualities, and --’” Man conducts Bob on outdoor tour of testing facilities. “Part Three will follow immediately.” “Assigned to the field.” Horse-drawn wagon climbs up rocky mountain road - road construction workers, planting dynamite charge - man pushes plunger, explosion. “A letter from home.” Close-up of letter from County Commissioners inviting him to become County Engineer. “Back home things are as usual.” Man cutting logs manually - men in horse-drawn wagon travel along deeply rutted road, man bicycle rides along dirt road. [1924]
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