Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1889-01-03
GETTING INTERESTED.

Inc farmers OF GltQcOe nclguDOIHOou
will resume the consideration and discus
sion of road making next Saturday after
noon, at o'clock, at Glencoe. We are
grati6ed to hear that much interest is be-
ing developed in the matter, and hope an
enlightened public opinion viii be awak-
ened and a policy of liberal improvement
of roads be determined upon.
Oar farmers need to get out of the mis-
cradle ruts through which they are fOun-
| dering, and to get abreast of the civiliza-
tiOn of the times. For generation the
dissatisfaction of young people, especial
/ ly. with farm life. the disposition of young
men to flee from farms to towns, and of
young women to coax their well-tO-do and
cOntented fathers to abandon the farm
and remove to town. has been deplored.
Many prosperous families have thus been
wrecked; and the end is not yet. When
we reflect upon the discomforts of almost
One-half the year upon the farm-many
of which are so wholly needless there
much wonder? In the season when the
young people have the time to get out
among their neighbOrs, or to town, for en-
/ tertainment or pleasure, the roads will
not permit In the summer season, or in
the early fall, they have not the time to
spare. Thus they are almost debarred
from that social intercourse and enjoy
ment for which they hunger, and seek an
opportunity to escape from what they
think plOdding life. which has no higher
aim than the accumulation of money and
lands.
Farmers owe it to themselves and to
their families to do all they fairly can to
make their homes and surroundings pleas
ant and rural life attractive. We are glad
to know that many appreciate that fact
and act upon it. This is especially true
of many of those of Colerain township,
past whose well-kept farms and pleasant
homes it is an inspiration to ride. And
except Richland (Which has about ten
miles of the National Road it has more
miles of improved roads than any other
township of the county. The Quakers
are the leayen over there The writer re-
calls visit to the home of the late B. E.
DUNCAN, then Commissioner of the
county, fifteen years ago. Fronting a
square brick house on one side was clean |
meadow and on the other a plat of ground |
thinly sprinkled with forest trees, carpet |
ed with rich blue grass, and as clean as
parlOr floor. Between them was pleas
ant drive from the road In the wide hall |
of the dwelling were bits of statuary and |
pictures, and in doors and out, in every
direction. evidences of refinement. That |
was a typical rural home.
This may be thought depression, but
it is not, good reader. The first essential
to comfort and refinement is good roads.
Without them, no matter how excellent
your buildings and fences and lands and
stock, no matter how much bank stock
or bonds you may own, there can be no
real progress, no lifting up of self or fam
lily. Suppose they do cost. In the long
run they will pay. When the season for
rains and deep mud is at hand you will
feel you are above the savage He is con-
tent to dwell in tent, and to do altogeth-
er without roads. Enlightened people re-
aliZe that there is higher purpose in this
life than sordid gain, accompanied with
a denial of all that makes life enjoyable
Let the discussion go on, in good tenn
per always, and we are sanguine that the
people will determine that it is poor econ
Omy to maintain bad roads,