The Opelousas courier., 1890-12-13
ghe Road Question.
NO. Times.D Democrat.

N. o. Timss.D Democrat.
T'he demand for better roads ass
snraad TO New York, and o State tcaus
iTanrovement ASSOCIATION has bqbsf Or
Sanissd in that State, including aqEas o
IL most enlightened and pubiic-aEsaf'eeo
sis N IF tbs leading officers of Il Ssasso-
o;ss;cn fafraa the view that the ct eyofai.
;zstion in agriculture and the ihSreas-
mo r~lnrtsaEes on farms are largely que
r. fha bad condition OF the pubic roaas
throughout the State, and says;
The few good roads in this State are
the railroads and the canals. CURIOUS
ss IL may seem, these are 80 gooa tnat
fhey iniurethe farTners. Gra'n 10 eaa
ried over them 9 distance or a tuousdn ~
miles at a profit for an amount ouI Nv
lie above what it costs oorihR d" aa,s"
part Of the year TO naqt ~ itoI IL near.
: ands Of farms in this state 20 the neaI-
ast railway station. In fact during
ssyeral months Of any ordinary year
SSe roads are not considered at may be
saidl rayioabIe for heavy loads. Une
diyaetsv disastrous result 10 that OF the
mnTtSseea on farms. 1t is generally
heIieved that q farmers would he
more prosperous 1T more attention was
given TO raising vegetables ana run
and dairy products. but TO maze any
profit on fruits and vegetaoies, ~ -
NECESSARY to haul big loads. SO as 20 re-
duce cost Of handling, and MILK anu
ssSs nave In 90 TO market regularly,
vsSsthar it is the good time oil the year
m the had time of the year for the ROADS.
With improved roads, what are now
vasfe products will become all import,
ant soIIrca of income, such as q
annies. straw. etc, while it will pay to
haul back on the farms more fertilizers
fNew York. the riehset State in the
Union, is so badly of it is not to De won,
derad atsif the Southern States should
be- backward in this matter,
y nnk the nress has at last been aTDu5eC
tn the necessity of better roads, and !!
discussing the matter with such earnest
meas that there is c reason 70 hnp'
that something will be done. All IN
New York papers are o~ntspoken on ann
subject. The New York Tribune ls yer.
emphatic, u follows:
3ssrhOee who are f~slniliar with the wa.
iii which roads are commonly bulit an'
sepaired will readily perceive ina "a
chief obstacles to good roaos are ~
want Of system in their c~onstructio
ana tlse absence of qualified roadnaAker;
Tfie work IN done, so far as II 10 done y
an. mot nv men vino understand the on
s;rsaas. ana who are paid for doing, ]
and are kent up to q proper 2
af1ciaucy. but by the farmers VINO dis
chnrea their taxes by scraping 70
Highways around their own propertle
once or twice q year. 10
business of itself, and the state neye
can have creditable highways unsil tn
kind Of makeshift business Is aooiisn o.,
and the work ia committed to those WI
ara nractised In doing it, and who nay
the mateaiais and tools suitable Il
What Is 1eqaired OF them
The New York Post thinks that Il
public is &C last aroused TO the impo
lance of better roads, and says:
The articles by Mr.. r. A. Learned
cha GeRzayN Magazine last autumns al
by Prof. N. s. Shaler, which, ~ ecul
Gus ~eosneidence, appeared 10 SeTspnel
Iaeas;as Of the same month, compile.
II covered the subject On rnral "
anS Immediate improvements viii
.canld he made upon che present syste
even without decreased .eSpenditu
ME nnbllC mind probably ID suttclen'
awake 70 thls side of the question.
Ana the New York World appeals
the country communities as rollo"s
Those who insist Gtat OUT T CO
rnfsl1iesea cannot afford to build q
maintain good roads are greatly 70
taken. Every community IN me COZ
Try, except. In the hlnly settlea y =
States, can better AFFORD good ROADS U
"a. it 10 largely o question. OF gett'
TIE worth of the money that IS
pended
The trouble seems to be that
farnsers "a not themselves fully real
tie advantage of good roads. III
knoW that Go build them will cost sol
thius, and they do not appreciate b
eood an investment roads will prove
time. and how much they viii cave
the matter of hauling, ETC.. 1t 70 y
much like levee building. The hrst
veatment is very heavy. and expensl
but it isona that pays for itself M
tiDea over.