The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1892-06-02
GOOD ROADS.
(FrOm the "GOspel uf Good Roads,
CHATTER XIV.

theorists aud cranks began TO talk
to the people of Parke County about
constructing turnpikeS and gravel
roads. They We're met by arguments
winch the good people of Parke County
would be ashamed to have repeated
here, aud they made few converts.
Finally one enthusiast in the county
built Il mile Of gravel road and paid
Tor IL out OF his private purse. lie Was
radical Oh the road question and
wished to Convince his neIghbUrs; bat
they only made fun OF his efforts aud
plunged along in the mud until it Oe-
came apparent that there was only one
mile of good rO;It in the entire country.
This mile of good road preached il
powerful sermon. It was a bitter ar
gument and made more converts than
all that had been talked and written
to those people for generations. "A
wave of common sense rolled over into
Parke County which contained at the
time the muddiest road in the State. a
few enterprising people led the move"
ment for all Improvement of this road,
and in short time a solid highway
was completed over which the farmers
drew their loads with ease, pleasure
and profit. This road Was the second
convincing argument in that part Of
the county and it routed the oppOsi-
tiOn. The people found that nothing
served to increase their individual and
collective prosperity 50 much as good
roads, and in few years seven splen.
did gravel pixies were completed, all
leading to the county seat, while all
main roads in the county and the
rkS rf 10
we'll graveled. A writer, whose early
years were spent in this county, relat-
ing the great benefit which accrued by
reason of the better system Of roads.
writes as follows:
The common roads were also great
1y improved, and to one who left the
country, as did in 1867, and crossed
it only by rail till 1879, the change was
wonderful. Country travel had be-
come delight. Those who had been
there all the time could not appreciate
it 80 highly, and the old fogies' were
still kicking against every new road.
To me there was something amusing
in noting how many results there were
which no one had anticipated. OF
course the farmers hauled much bigger
loads. and did it in March more easily
than in August; wagons lasted a great
deal longer; horses were rarely injured,
and so it paid to keep better stock,
and what was of very great Importance
markets could be reached at any sea-
son. But the most striking results
were purely social, so much so as ia
suggest revised text, thus: Easy
communications increase good man
ners.' Good highways are certainly
the prime factor in civilization. The
farmers. formerly isolated for weeks
together, discovered that they could "a
where they would with ease, and at
the very season when they had the
most leisure. To ride a few miles after
supper was an actual pleasure, and
soon almost every school district had its
social or religious. literary or political
organization, and some had all four
There were lyceums, lectures and joint
debates. recitatiOns and amateur thea
tricals-something really instructive
and entertaining within a few easily
covered miles for the farmer for hall
the evenings of the winter. The Qua
kers of the northern township soon
had regular series of literary contests
the people of two villages got up very
creditable musical societies, while the
young folks of Raccoon Valley cap.
ped the climax by taking the abandon
ed Bridgeton church, refitting it in
semi-theatrical style and giving a fair.
ly good season of the legitimate drama.
Now 1t is quite the common thing foi
popular lawyer or other professional
from the county seat to ride out 10 O,
II miles after business hours. deliver q
lecture to a crowded district school
house, and enter home by late bed
time. There has been general
Frightening up The winter, once sc
gloomy to the isolated farmer, is now
the season when he really lives. An.
other remarkable effect was to create a
sort of furor for elegant turnouts,
That county was long noted in tie ad-