Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1855-06-28
From the st. Mary's Beacon.
GOOD ROADS.

| Messrs. Editors Allow me, through the
medium Of your paper, to direc, attention lo
q subject of much greater interest end i'm.
portsnce than il would appear The public are
willing 10 concede-I mean the value oil
good roads. This subjec. does not seem
to be properly appreciated here, or if So
there is an apathy prevailing with regard to
il, that cannot fail to have Its effect upon
our industrial economy, and 10 create an
unfavorsble impression whenever our enter
prise and judgmen. may be in question:
We have often been accused, | slIude no,
to US citizens of ST. Mary's but TO the low.
er counties Of This State generally, } Of being
Behind the '.imes, decidedly slow in fac. IN
all matters spper,aining to Agriculture, and
the justice Of the accusation, however un.
pslstable the admission, no rejecting person
can refuse to acknowledge. Agriculture,
its interests and welfare, matters of vital i'm
por'ance 10 US, an agricultural people, seem
TO occupy but small portion Of our time
and consideration. speak now Of the pub
lie manifestation Of sentiment as expressions
Of the popular views and is there any bei-
ter index of the feeling. or opinions Of a
community 'hsn public demonstrations p
Have not politics, horse-racing four,h-of.
July celebrations and celebrations in gene
ral, have they no, all their exponen,s of
popular sentiment in the shape Of public
discussions, commil,ees of arrangement, re-.
| solutions, instructions, nomins,io end last
though no. least, subscriptions? Is it no,
because some interest is fell by the people
on these subjects thus urging them TO its
expression /? Is Agriculture honored with
any such public notice, clothed with the
fascinating parspbernslia Of a public de.
mons,ra.ion of any kind, whether mass
meeting, club or commillee Are its inter-
esls looked after, its wants supplied, csndi-
dates nominated who are pledged 10 use
their exerions in their behalf, to claim e.
quail rights and privileges with the other So
called great interests ? No, no. A few
gentlemen will meet in Q social circle, dis.
cuss their agricultural concerns, aye, intel
ligen,ly and warmly discuss them, condemn
and compIsin Of existing defective system,
end laws snd-wha. then !? Why nothing
absolutely nothing resul, but the impression
the. something ough. 10 be done, and some.
body ough. to do i.-bu, who? There's
the point. Men NEE, and talk (socislly
mean; publicly would be too irksome fol
that ques,ion) and almost resolve, and thai
is the end. Why is this so? sit because
Agriculture is ofIess Interest, end importance
than politics or Jockey clubs: Surely not
-none will admit that.
| II is because our views Of the matter is q
mistaken one, too limited in its range, too
shor.-sIgh,ed TO see the pregnant future
looming up before US. This question does
not appeal to our passion end prejudicer,
nor csp,iva,e with its syren voice oI excite
men', does no. arouse and crafty the ns.u-
rsl and ins.,isbIe cravings for the novel and
exciting and man, so frequently the crea
.ure of impulse, The tool end slave Of pas
passion 10 not easily led by calm consider
a.ions aud dispsssiona,e appeals, unless an.
other tender point is touched, his interest.
II would not be Difficult, 10 move Us Cor sny
one eIse) il we could be convinced .ha, our
in.eres, js nes,ly concerned, but We doub,
the necessity or expediency Of q JOINT, CON.
hined action, and therefore remain iner,.-
We regard our Agricultural condition too
much in the Iigh. Of purely individual
concern, in which no one is interested bu,
The individual himself, as If oil were jour.
neyiog diffesen, roads, with separate points
Of destination, with no inlercommunica,io
no .ymPstby based upon similarity Of pu,-