Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-10-15

Fhsy isolate the Farmer and Afs 80
Inormous waste ~ Money.

Ing an article IN Inc Forum if JOuu
Wesley Bookwalicr, Gays "Whilo VI
Bookwalter Is right In ascrlJng much %
the tendency OF population 10 move from
tho country 10 the city 10 the isolation o.
farm life. and while HE plan o. having
farm lands 20 surveyed that there woaii
be- village In the center of each section
where all tho families might live has *.
ccllout features, we think that h. has
scarcely given due weight TO the evil
effects Of our country roads IN creating
aud enforcing almost absolute seclusion
for country dwcllers
"The worst difficulty about rural lifois
not the distance that separates ono habi.
tatiun' from another. u * the fact that
this distance 10 be trivcred is o barrier
during certain seasons u tho year. al.
most ~ impossible ns mountain range
or a swollen torrent Farmers, "a
rule. are well supplied with vehicles and
horses They are not welded 10 life
Of solitude, utloyu cheer and spciabiliiy
even better than other folks They lnd
these denied 10 them by the condition u
the country roads during a lurge portion
Of the year. Ihi-i. les marked IN ouE
prairie country than 1t ia IN sections at
the cast and south. whore the soil
changes. under tho influence II rainfall.
10 a tenacious mud that Practically
negatives an l1com0tion. But even here
there Is considerable portion Of tho
year whom drive o. from three 10 ten
miles Is anything but q pleasant under
taking In tho most unlnvofably stu
ntcd communities thcro arc fully six
months when neighborhoo1 intercourse
Is denied TO all bat pc1ea,ilu- This ia
the great sacrifice which he must make
who decides to try country liio Ia the
United States
"itishardly doubtful that large shnrc
Of tho average Enaliahmans passion foi
residing In tho country. aud q aiill lafEci
share Of his fondness for long walks and
rides. a. due 70 tho fact that no docs not
know what n poor road h.. Such high
way anywhere Ia Great Britain aa the
bcst Of our country roads would provoke
thenatiycs to aninsurr,otlon. From ono
end Of the uiland 10 the other the tray
eler finds everywhere the same bcnuti-
ful. even surface Tor driving, equal IN
comfort and very like In appearance TO
our asphalt streets. though it u only n
superior maeadam. over this the heavy
English carriages. which q horse could
hardly move IN this country, bowl MGR
fily 10 hill and down dale. On one side
g. the gravclcl fooipsth for walking peo-
pie. on the other the dirt bHdlcpath Tor
those on horseback. And between them
tho ideal highway strctchosits glistoniua
length, FRO from mud or stones or duat
at an seasons Of tho year. Il il small
wonder that people love the country,
aud that short distances do not deter
them or compel thom 10 live secluded
whore tho facilities for travel aro such
a. these.
"Yot the difference between the ooun.
try roads ~ Great Britain aud those Of
tho United States Is rather one Of intelli
guut interest and painstaking thnn one
Of expense. The Engiishman has simply
learned how TO goabout roaimaking. liz
! prepares tho surface withalmolt OF quit,
a. much caro- as We do for laying a payo
ment. Then, when tho mncadam Is laid
on. he secs TO II that u has constant Mt
tcntlon. A little break, slowly form
INK depression rs not allowed TO ruin ia,
roadway. Stocks Of finely broken ston,
aro ready prepared everywhere. aud th'
slightest defect Is repaired Immediately
We thinkit can 10 proved that In man,
OF the older communities Of this country
tho people have actually paid out NOR,
money for highway construction aud 10
pair Per mile than II has cost tho Eng
lish TO create and maintain their nlm0s
perfect system Of roads 4 good deal oil
tho money has been wasted by politica
fpoilrmen. Most Of tho remainder ha
been applied uu0ntolliguntly, Hlot OF mel
digging deep bitches on either side % th
the highway, throwing the earth frou
these into the center and thinking ,lH
this convex surface OF nuwly dug mol
could bo called u road and this process
road mcnding'
"IhUrcarc signs Of an awakening Of in
telligcnt interest In the subject In som
quarters. Proicssorships have even bee
established IN some II tho colleges &
teach the art Of roadmaking, and peopl
nro beginning 10 understand tho fright
ful economic loss of putting an emhars
on travel dunnga good portion OF Oh
year. or else compelling all beasts g
burden 20 consume vital furce and "a
haust themselves unnecessarily. II wi
be u saving 10 be counted by millions q
dollars annually aud 1t will be u mayo
Gus gain socially and morally as well q
industrially. when we shall have sue
scientific roadmaling IN tho Unite
States that tho rural dweller will posses
90 far as private conveyance q conccrne,
tho Same advantages that aro enjoyed b
/ tho residents of citicA"
Cost OF a Pigeon CoTpa
The French are losing no chance q
masking their military establishment p
f,ctivc. Carrier pigeons NOW f1rn a rci
ulAr official department Of the army. m
ID a #aa