Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-04-23
WILL GOOD ROADS PAYf
they Are as Important to she city as to
the Farmers.

I
the Farmers.
There seems to be a vague idea on the
part of some OF those who are disposed
to discuss the road question that only
the farmers are interested in securing
good country roads. This is a delusion
which robs the question of more than
half its Importance. The interest of
farmers is that of individuals, whereas
tle members of the communities that
form the villages and towns have. in adj
Iiition to their individual interest, the
larger interest which grows out of the
communal relations. Good roads will
greatly. benefit the farmer: there can he
no doubt Of that; but in much greater
degree they will benefit the villages and
towns which set up TO be market centers.
1t is necessary to bear this clearly in
mind. for it raises the road question be-
yond and above the interests of the in
dividual and invests it with the dignity
and Importance which properly belong
to it. That which places the farmer
nearer the market necessarily places the
market nearer the producer, and this
fact is of much more importance to the
community than il is to the individual
farmer.
To say that our present system is bar
barous and inadequate. i'll that it merely
provides right of way for the great
traffic Of the state through mudholes
and quagmires. is merely an informal de-
scription which will be cordially in
dorsed by all who are compelled to use
our roads; but it means nothing. The
system is habit which we inherited
from our Colonial ancestors. Ii is bad;
indeed it could not be worse; but we are
accustomed to it, and any change must
be the result of arguments and convic-
tions ~hich have business basis-which
have their origin in a belief that sub
stantial results will follow
We may observe the alacrity with
which both farmers and citizens of COM
munities subscribe to railroad enter
prises in which they can have only re-
mote interest. comparatively speaking |
In some instances counties have issued |
bonds in order that they may raise
money to aid railroads which cannot by |
any possibility prove to be equally adj
vantageous TO all the citizens. The peo-
pie are willing to tax themselves because
they know that substantial results will |
follow the advent of railroad. They
draw no dividends. but they know that
the railroad win prove to be advantage
Gus. because it brings them nearer to
the great markets. gives them an outlet
for their produce. increases the value of
the land in town and country. and car
ries along with it the spirit and impulse
Of industrial energy and development.
Yetif one will take the map of Georgia
and make an investigation, it will be
that the railroads Of the state
bear no reasonable relation to the public
roads in length, number and Importance;
and there are hundreds of miles of pub
lie roads that find no place on the map.
In other words, notwithstanding the ex-
stence of so many railroads an over
majority of the people of
Georgia are compelled to depend on the
public roads for marketing their prod
nee, for receiving their supplies and for
heir means of communication and in
If this is the case in
Georgia, a state which leads all other
southern states in the matter of railroad
development, what must be the situa-
ion elsewhere?
Ii must follow, therefore. that the
building of good country roads is mat
er Of more importance than the build
ny OF more railroads. In fact, the rail-
Dads themselves have made better
country roads an absolute necessity. for
he two systems depend on each other.
The complete development of one in.
olives the conpleter development Of the
'ther 1t is to be presumed that the
'ublic understands this in a vague and
way. The question, there
ore, for the public to consider is not the
ecessity, but the profitableness, of good
ountry roads Will it pay to begin and
AIRY on to completion the work of per- I
nanent improvement. This was the c
uestion asked when the people were a
sked to contribute to the local railway
and it is eminently fair one.
With respect to good country roads !
his inquiry may be partly answered by
n appeal to the common sense of those {
Tho are interested. Will it pay the J
armer to be able to do the work of two J
nd three horses with one? Win it pay J
i'm 10 be able in one day with two =
orses to do the work that formerly re- .
uired four horses and two days to do: i
Atlanta Constitution.
How TO Make Gravel Roads. a
Good gravel roads exist in great Il