The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1893-01-06
GOOD ROADS PAY.



n More Profitable Investment Can 10
Made by ANY Community.
The National League for Good Roads
"a op.. Of the most benefcent organixa-
lions in the country. The movement OF
which il las taken charge was very \
largely promoted. II il WAS not oegan' y
~ the efforts IT the wLeelmen. VINO
have done a great deal of public good
IN other ways. aud especially by see ~
ing a more accurs.e mapping and
better system Of guideposts IN many
parts of the country than prevailed any
where before their labors began to bear
fruit.
II may be said that everybody VINO
has paid any attention 10 the suoJec' Is
now convinced that good roads pay, ana
thar there is no more profitable invest
men, for an agricultural, community
than the FIRST cost and the maintenance
of highways that are considerably more
extensive and UNNECESSARILY more re-
r,unerative than any that now exist, ex-
cent in TIE outskirts Of great towns, ana
that are very seldom 10 be found even
there. But il would I've great mistake
10 assume that improvement Is certain
because the advantage " II Is 6non-
stratei.
II is within bounds TO say that the
great majority Of the farmers OF the
United States never saw good road
and do not know what il is. A road
that is n mcrass N spring, sahara IN
simmer. a series of ruts and ndges
frozen stiff in late autumn and a slough
whenever there Is thaw in the winter
is TO them the normal means OF rurai
communication. II they had known ana
used good roads they would not tolerate
The existing roads for a month. but be-
cause they do not they viii 90 on aoqui-
escing in thecxisting country roads with
an apathy that is born OF ignorance
The ONLY way to break in upon the
apathv is 10 dispel the ignorance. and
that can be done only by bringing good
roads within the reach OF the people Of
the rural districts. or at least WITHIN
their knowledge. and enabling them TO
find out for themselves the difference
between them and the roads of wnicn
they have grown to regard the defects
IA incurable. This must be done, under
our system. by the states and requires
state legislation. If there were, say,
ten miles Of model roadway in every
county in the state Of New York. 1t Il
unite certain that within O very few
wears this mileage would be multiplied
by ten by the efforts OF the inhaoitant
themselves. who would have come Il
learn what an enormous saving 10 then
., xrall a what
great advantage in comfort the new
roads would bring TO them.
The efforts Of the national and star
leagues ought to be devoted 10 brinsin
about such legislation in every state. i
one state the matter has already becom
a political issue. for the candidates 10
the legislature in Illinois have b<sL on
cially Intercepted rs TO their posiuo
on the subject. 1t is not likely that man
IL these candidates had ever given an
Thought 10 the matter. but being thu
required 10 take stand concerning
nearly all Of them have returned sati
factory answers. This ought to mes
that If a well matured bill were presen
ed TO the legislature Of Illinois provi
ing for the construction Of model road
il would be enacted and put into exec
non. When that is accomplished q
battle will have beea won.
1t is in the exstern states that the me-
of good roads is perhaps most urger
The abaai nment Of New Englal
farms, attritefed to western compe
ton. would scarcely have been possii
If the farms had been connected by {
cent roads with the market towns or
railroads. one of which ought TO be vii
in easy driving distance Of every fai
in New England, and would be 80 II !
roads were what they should be. I
more eastern agriculture changes fr'
the raising Of staple crops to ''tru
farming the more Indispensable to
are cary. well built. well drained ro'
that ara practicable at all seasons OF
vear.--Nsw York Times.