The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-04-02

anything else they have to sell
may tempt them to try to overcome the
barriers that shut them out from the
world, yet they soon realize the difference
between what On article Is worth In the
large markets Of the country and what 1t
Is worth on the mud bound farm OF home
A writer in the Parkersburg journal
illustrates tho expensivenesS Of this con-
dition Of the roads to the farming COM
munity by the following practical state
ment:
During the past ten days wheat has
been sold by the tanners Of the Tygart
Valley, In this city for 81 80, which, II II
could have been Bought TO market six
weeks ago, when the roads were quite
impossible, would have brought 81 90 per
bushel. Here 10 q direct loss Of $50 on
the hundred bushels. And this loss ia
only upon single item. It extends to
every product Of the soil, and In o year
will loot up much larger than the extra
tax would be 10 macadamize your roads.
As this writer very properly observes,
the item OF wheat is only one item in the
agricultural category that Is so expensive
ly effected by the lack Of better facilities
for transportation. The question there
fore Is as 10 how are these drawbacks
that surround so many thousands OF far
mers TO be overcome. The answer in
wolves not only the matter Of dollars and
cents 10 producer and consumer, but, to
the farmer 1t involves other and still higher
considerations. 1t involves considera-
tons Of social and moral culture-proper
facilities Tor his family to avail themselves
OF the re6nements of lile-such as In this
day and age Of the world have great
weight with most men Of intelligence,
As the writer from whom we have quot
ed very truly and forciblY observes, good
roads are not only "the arteries Of the
wealth q the country" but they are
The conduits through which flow all
those advantages which enhance your
moral culture and which sustain
and improve your mental advance.
ment. You must bear in mind that
good roads not only afford you an easy
and accessible market, thus adding to
your bank account, but they bring the
church and the school house, the twin
handmaidSot civilization and enlighten-
ment, to the farmers very doorstep, and
blot out the word distance from his vo-
cabulary. They establish social advan-
tages as well as pecuniary profit, and give
to those who are isolated from the oppor-
tunities Of society and intercourse that
attend town lie, the advantage Of easy
communication and frequent intercourse.
The remedy suggested by the writer in
the Journal for the relief of the farmers Of
that Wood county, is tardtLOn-a remedy
that many farmers believe to be worse
than the disease" But, as he very truly
says, roads can not be built without money,
and money.for such purposes can only be
raised by taxation. He therefore adVo-
Gates the issue Of twenty year bonds, the
proceeds Of which shall DO devoted to
macadamizing one or two good roads
leading through that county, and thus
remedy, in part OF least, the drawbacks
complained Of. Good roads, like all
really good improvements, must be built
gradually. They cannot be built past
every farmers door in one year. The
object should therefore be to build one or
two lines that will, to tho largest possible
extent, open up facilities Of intercourse
in the muddy months Of the year between
the town and country, and build them
well and permanently:
But, you ask, how can we raise the
money to macadamiZe our roads and
make them good in all seasonsP We an.
swer, stop making new roads 10 every
farm house and pig stye in the country.
II Q man wants new road through his
farm, let him make 1t himself and not
impose the expense on the public, Then,
instead ofpatching and ditching here and
there, commence with those roads that
are Travelled the most and macadamize
them thoroughly and well. II you can't
do twenty miles the first year, do ten, and
as last as completed you will have roads
that will last generation and will not be
q continual drain upon your purse, APP
propriate all the labor tax and property
tax that the law gives you In this direc-
ton, and Il that shall be insufficient
are satisfied that It will not be enough
then issue the bonds Of the county 10 run
twenty years In any amount that NAV be
necessary to give you this great improve.
ment
This suggestion Of the Journal writer
Is good one, and is the only method BY
which really good roads can be bull, in
many ofour counties. In Brooke county,
afew years ago, this plan was substantial.
ly, adopted, and a macadamized road built
from WellSburg to Bethany that has been
q great convenience to the people. The
same county has another pike built by a
stock company, that runs from Wellsburg
to Independence. These two roads drain
a rich section Of country and enable far
merS to get to market at all seasons Of the
year. The cost Of matchmaking such
roads is not great, perhaps thousand dol.
lars per mile, and yet when done It makes
road worth dozen mud pixies for SER
vice. macadamized road OF ordinary
length could be built every Eve years In
each OF the counties surrounding us, until
every county had several Of them, and the
tax.payers DO the richer because OF them
at the end Of the time, to say nothing Of
the direct and indirect advantages result
Ing from their use in the meantime.