Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1895-01-24
FARM AND GARDEN.
The ROAD pRoRl EN-.
EXTRACT from Paper Read at a wisron-
sin Farmers InstItuts9

hfFh" " uBtI AttNu III u hlhfOn~
sin Farmers Instisuts.
The present Ays,em Of paying high
way taxes, figuratively designated AZ
'working them out" 10 admittedly
bad and can he easily remedied, but
an attempt to make change In .hi.
direction would undoubtedly meet
with opposition, hence / have avoided
discussing that subject prcferring to
let the several propositions stand
alone and be discussed and considered
on their respective merits. The sub.
1ect OF good roads has received SC
ihneh discussion in the public press
lately, and there seems to be such d
uniform consensus Of opinion thai
something must be done in this direej
tioh' little more remains 10 be done
than to devise Some general plar
wnich shall not only be feasible bu'
GENERALLY acceptable. Good roads
mean great deal more than mere
convenience. They mean more than
Saving money, which, however, is a
matter of no small Importance. They
mean more intimate relationship be.
tween the city and country people, to
the mutual advantage of both They
neah that living in the country fol
six months in the year shall not be
practical isolation.
Poor roads keep the farmer and his
family at home at that season Of the
year when they have the most leisure
when time hangs heavily, when il
could and would add to their enjoy.
ment socially, and advantage educe.
tionally, if a frequent drive to the
town or city, or a visit among the
neighbors and friends living at dig
tance of few miles, could be taken.
The longingof many young men and
women TO escape from the farm is
largely traceable to the isolation
caused by the mud embargoes. Good
roads mean better prices for the farm
ers located few miles away from the
market town, because the present con-
dition of the highways compels the
marketing of the products OF such
farms at the times when the roads are
good and the market prices usually
lowest. Good roads would permit the
average purchaser of farm produce
living in towns and cities to buy his
stock of such articles at a lower price
than at present.
Indeed it seems to me that no more
important topic in financial and so.
cial way has OF late engaged the at
tention of the public. If, then, this
subject is of such prime Importance,
the necessity of moving with great
care will be apparent. AS indicated
above, it seems to me wisest to COM
mence with a system of country roads
branching out from the county towns,
ultimately to extend from county seat
to county seat. The enterprise being
of such general public interest to the
people of the whole state, uniformity
in plan and entire freedom from local
influence in the selection of route OF
the acceptance of work done being SO
important to general success of the
undertaking, the making of the plans
and surveys, and in a measure the
general superintendence, should be
under the direction of state en-.
gineer, whose expenses should be
borne by the state at large. Subject
to the general supervision of the state
engineer, the management of the i'm
provement should be under the con.
troll of the county board or other
county official within their respective
counties.-C. L. Estabrook.