The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-11-15
GOOD ROADS.
Mr.. Pope, of Boston, Makes a Suggestion
to Railroad officials.
BosToN. Mass Sent. 26 1892

TO CalIEOaQ OmC1alS.
BOSTON, Mass Sept. 90, 1892.
DEAR 5IR:-Permit me to urge upon
your attention the great importance of
good roads as feeders to railroads.
Throughout the United States the con
dition of the common country roads is
the index to the prosperity of railroads,
When highways are impossible, freight
and passenger earnings are necessarily
diminished and the price of railroad
securities lowered; when the roads are
in good condition, merchandise is &C
cumulated at the depots, and in NOV
ing it trains are delay ed and accidents
increased. A uniform good condition
Of roads would enable railroads to
handle freights more expeditiously and
advantageousl,
Good roads are the means by which
a country is built up populously and
prosperously bad roads delay civiliza-
ton, and cause districts to be sparsely
settled, and poverty and ignorance to
abound.
The railroad companies of this coun
try, representing millions of employees
and billions of capital, and controlled
and directed by men Of high intetli-
gence, have a commanding influence
in every legislative hall in the United
States.
Every railway corporation can re-
quest its officers, agents and employees
TO do what they can to create a right
| sentiment In regard to the improve
ment of highways in their respective
neighborhoOds; and all along the vari
Gus lines depot masters and freight
agents could report to a road depart
ment, established by the company, the
condition of the roads in their towns
and what Is being done to improve
them. These depot masters could be
furnished from time to time with pam
phi It's containing instructions for the
construction and maintenance of high
ways, for distribution to persons doing
business at their stations, and thus
| educate them how to build better roads
as we'll as teach them that better high
ways effect saving In transportation.
! Any railroad running through a terri
tory having good roads must have a
great advantage over a C )mpeting line
with poor roads from it's stations.
The executive officers of a railroad
corporation car instruct representa-
Uives in Congress On the Importance of
better highways so that favorable leg
islatiOn may be secured; newspapers
to whom railroad companies extend
their patronage might be requested to
devote space to agitating this matter.
The building up OF suburban districts,
which is of such a profitable character
to railroads, IS first brought about by
the construction of good roads by those
who wish to sell land.
Aside from the material advantages
that may accrue to a railroad by its
aiding in the work of agltating this
subject, there is to be considered the
broader question of the great benefits
that might be conferred upon the en-
tire community.
Will you not aid this great move
ment which is of so much national i'm
portanCe2
There will be sent to you a memorial
to Congress on the subject of roads,
which contains the opinions of the fol
lowing presidents of railroads: Stuy-
vesant Fish, Illinois Central; NJ, E. In
| gals, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago
| & St. Louis; @. J. Ives, Burlington,
Cedar Rapids & Northern; w. O..
Vann Horne, Canadian Pacific, and
many others.
Very truly yours,
ALBERT A. POPE.