Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-05-05


its Wise expenditure. And right hore h
may be noted that the cost Of maintain
ing and repairing a highway properly
CONSTRUCTED ln the firsf instance ought
never TO be greater for year than per
cent. OF its first cost. In the two items of
horses aud vehicles, as have shown,
the increased value OF these properties
would more than pay for the Improve
ment; but Il Is not the greatest value,
by any means. The effect upon the
horses and vehicles used on roads would
be more immediate and more direct, and
therefore have called particular atten-
ton TO this phase OF the subject. The
enhancement OF the value of real estate
would be 80 great that the items have
mentioned would seem 80 insignificant
as not to be worth discussing. In one
neghborhood alone-that OF Union
County, New Jersey--the Improvement
OF the roads has changed values 90
greatly ,has men wto , few years ago
were struggling farmers, with earnings
so scnnt that 1t was difficult to make
two ends meet, are now not only we'll
to-do but absolutely rich. They can sell
their crops at good profits; they can
grow more profitable crops; they can
get these crops quickly and cheaply to
market; and their lands, for which at low
prices it was formerly almost impossible.
TO find purchasers, are now in demand
at prices which, compared with the old
order of things, seems fabulous, and the
mere mention of which suggests a most
unaccustomed condition of opulence.
The Social Side.
These are few of the direct economic
problems in which the roads are fac
tors. There is another one worthy OF
mention of even greater Importance. 1t
is hard to put any money estimate upon
the value OF an improved social condi-
ton; indeed. 1t is impossible. But our
ta1 roads have SO serious an influence
upon country life and the happiness OF
the men and women who lead rural
lives that In all probability a purely
social aspect of the case Is more impor-
tant than any other. One can scarcely
pick up newspaper nowadays without
reading that in farming communities it
is most difficult to get competent and
trustworthy agricultural laborers. When
any thoughtful observer sees in the
great cities how the families of the men
who do what is called laborers' work
are lodged, when he sees them huddled
together in great, badly smelling tene-
ment houses, he marvels that they
should prefer this to life in the country,
where fresh air is free and wholesome
food is cheap, but there can be little
doubt there Is preference for
this kind of existence in cities, even
though it be fact that work Is harder
to get there than in the country, and not
a bit more regular. Not only is this the
case with laborers. but we find. when
ever we choose to. inquire, that the best
youths born of country families early
,bssin to-feel a hanksring for town life.
If they staid at home to till the soil or
fields there would not be this scarcity of
agricultural laborers which has Just been
NOTED; but no sooner does an adventure
some youth In the country begin to feel
the down upon his cheeks changing into
whiskers than he is fired with an ambi-
ton to go to some city and become a
member Of the great hustle and strife
which the close competition of men with
M produces. This doesn't mean that
he IS afraid Of the hard work that has to
be done on the farm, for none but fool
would believe that a man to succeed
even moderately does not have to work
just as hard in town as in the country,
and farmers boys are not foois-at least
they have not proved themselves to be
in Amortization the great majority of
our distinguished and successful men
have been recruited not from the col
leges and universities of learning, but
from these very fields which now suffer
because there are not men enough to
cultivate them.
Among those who conspicuously adj
vocatel the idea that the national gov
eminent should take part and lead in
this matter Of road Improvement is Gen.
Roy Stone, OF New York, the engineer
and inventor The restless activity of
General Stones mind has been directed
to this problem for many years. and he
has recently secured the cooperation OF
several prominent statesmen in Wash
ington in project soon to be formulated
in bill to be brought before Congress.
This bill proposes the formation of
National Highway Commission, which
shall examine the whole subject, formu-
late a plan for National School OF
Roads and Bridges, and make an exhibit
at the Worlds Fair.
Conner nv the Thouannd ToDS.