The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1895-10-17
GOOD ROADS.

More and more the subject of road !
Improvement is attracting attention |
and it is a healthful sign that it is SO. |
1t shows that the people are awak- !
ing to the Importance OF a matter |
that means great deal for residents
of both town and country. Good |
roads place the markets nearer the |
producer, in the sense that annihila-
ton of time is annihilation of space,
and Of course they place the people |
of market places nearer the source of
supply, thus bestowing mutual
benefit. They mean, also, great
economy in horse flesh and running
gear-and wear and tear o.
patience, to say nothing of the
benefits in the way of pleasure in
travelling.
Sometimes people fail to utilize the
most favorable seasons for road
improvement, because during such
seasons the roads are at their best,
if the term best may be applied to
them at any time perhaps it would
be nearer the mark to say they are
not so bad then as at other times),
and they do not fully realize the
necessity for such improvement.
They are like the fellow of whom the
Arkansas traveller tells-his house
didn't need shingling when it wasn't
raining and he couldn't shingle 1T
when it was raining, and it didn't
get shingled.
We are glad to know that under
the direction of Maj. ] C. Shut more
attention than usual has been paid
to the Improvement of the public
roads of Forsyth county during the
past severe al months. We hope the
good work in this direction will con-
tinue until we shall have roads in
every direction and in every quarter
of the county that we may brag on
and point to as models. In perfec-
ton in this line there is both salts
faction and money and we would be
glad to see all our people take a
lively interest in this important
subject.
Pertaining to the matter of good
roads, we find the following in the
Washington Post, which gives
strength to the belief that the sub
iect is growing in public interest:
'sThe good roads movement has
forced it's way into politics, but not
as a party issue. Ali parties are in
favor of improving the highways,
and though there are various and
radically different opinions as to the
agencies through which the work
should be accomplished, party lines
have not been drawn on those
differences. The Coxey plan of hav-
ing the nation take entire charge of
the matter, build good roads every
where and pay for them with fiat
money, finds little support in any
quarter, except among the survivors
of the army" which he led to Wash
ington. 1t lie generally conceded
that the work of road building
should be prosecuted by State,
county, end township authorities,
but there Is no consensus of opinion
as to the part which each Of the
three should take.
1.-The movement is in politics
because politicians see the expedi-
ency of catering to the wishes of the
large and rapidly increasing number
of citizens who earnestly desire good
roads. The Pennsy lvania Republic
can convention was the first to put a
good roads plank in it's platform.
This example was followed by the
New York Democrats who were
shrewdly looking for votes in every
direction and thought it wise to
recognize the bicycle interest. They
declare that they are in favor of
improved highways of travel
throughout the State in the interest
of our citizens and particularly of
the farmers and bicycle riders.
"The farmers have been slow to
recognize the Importance of this
movement. They have seen in it
little more than a proposed increase
of taxes. But reports from New
Jersey and Massachusetts. where
road building has been systemati-
cally undertaken, are working
change in the rural mind. The
farmers begin to comprehend that
they will be the chief beneficiaries of
this reform; that it will greatly
enhance the value of their lands by
increasing the profits of their work.
Many of them do not take kindly to
the wheelmen and are resentful of the
demand of residents of cities and
towns for better country roads.
But the average farmer is too sensi
BILE to let prejudice stand in the way
of his interest. He can see that it is
a good thing to have the drawing
capacity of his horses and mules
increase 25 to Is per cent. Seeing
this he is sure to join the wheelmen
and other residents in towns and
cities in pushing the reform along"
WAITING.
Puck of this week contains very
striking cartoon, representing Har-