Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-06-29
NO. a
WILL GOOD ROADS PAY
They Are as Important to the City as
the Farmers

| the Farmers
East, west, north and south-in all
parts OF the country, the gospel of
good roads" is being earnestly preached
oy the press. From the Atlanta Con-
stltutlon we quote the following sensi-
DE editorial article, which is even more
applicable to this state, new as il is.
! Than ii is 10 Georgia:
'Ihere seems To he vague idea ON
the part of some of those who are dis
posed To discuss the road question that
ohly the farmers are interested in secur-
lnS good country roads. This is "A delu-
SION which robs the question of more
tllah half Its importance. The interest
Oh FARMERS Is that of individuals, where
as me members of the communities
tlaJ form the villages and towns have.
iu auultlon To their individual interest,
the larger interest which grows out OF
the communal relations. Good roads
VIII greatly benefit the farmer: there
can be no doubt of that; but i'm a much
greater degree they will benefit the viii
Iages ana towns which set up to be
market centers.
~ Is necessary TO bear this clearly i'm
mlid, Tor 1t raises the road question be-
Sond ana above the interests of the i'm
ulVldual and invests il with the dignity
anu Importance which properly belong
10 IL. lhat which places the farmer
nearer the market necessarily places
the market nearer the producer. and
inns Tact is of much more Importance 10
tne community than il is to the indi-
vidual farmer.
'To say that our present system is
barbarous and inadequate, in that il
merely provides right of wav for the
great traffic of the state through mud
nOles and quagmires, is merely an i'm
formal description which will be cor
1iaily lndorsed by all who are com
pelled to use our roads; but IL means
hothlng. The system is habit which
we inherited from our Colonial ances-
-ora. III Is bad indeed it could not be
"oIsei Dul we are accustomed to IL,
ma any change must he the result of
arguments and convictions which have
I business basis-which have their ori-
slli IN belief that substantial results
will follow.
We may observe the alacrity with
which both farmers and citizens of
subscribe to railroad en-
erpflses IN which they can have only
remote interest, comparatively speak
hg' In some Instances counties have
ssued bonds in order that they NAV
alse money To aid railroads which can
IoJ Dy any possibility prove to be
qually advantageous TO ali the citizens.
he people are willing to tax them
elves because they know that substan-
lal results will follow the advent of a
abroad. They draw no dividends. but
hey know that the railroad will prove
be advantageous, because il brings
mem nearer to the great markets, gives
hem an outlet for their produce, in
reases the value of the land i'm town
ma country and carries along with il
ne spirit and impulse of Industrial
nergy and development.
Yet II one will take the map of
'Sorgla ana make an investigation, IL
III De discovered that the railroads of
ne state bear no reasonable relation TO
ne public roads in length, number and
Importance; and there are hundreds of
liles of public roads that find no place
4 the map. In other words, notwith-
andlng the existence of so many rail
'ads an overwhelming majority of the
eople of Georgia are compelled to de-
ehd ON the public roads for marketing
lelr produce, for receiving their sup
les ana Tor their means of communi-
luOh ana lntercOmmunicatiOn. If
Ils Is the case in Georgia, a state which
aus all other Southern states in the
after of railroad development, what
ust be the situation elsewhere?
III must follow, therefore, that the
lilding Of good country roads is a
after of more Importance than the
lilding of more railroads. In fact.
e railroads themselves have made
tier country roads AN absolute neces-
y, Tor the two systems depend on
ch other. The complete develop
.nt OF one involves the complete de-
lopment Of the other. 1t is to be pre-
med that the public understands
Is III vague and indefinable way.
le question, therefore, for the public
consider Is not the necessity, but the
Of good country roads.
III II pay to begin and carry on To
npletion the work of permanent i'm
)vement? This was the question
led when the people were asked TO
ltribute to the local railway enter
Sc, and it is eminently fair one.
With respect to good country roads
$ inquiry may he partly answered by
appeal to the common sense of those
10 are interested. Will it pay the
mer TO be able TO do the work of two
1 three horses with one? Will il nav
n to be able In one day with two
'ses to do the work that formerly re-
red four horses and two DAYS TO do?u
ny Mokaska coffee at the Wisconsin
Jcery and get teaSpOOns frea