The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1895-11-08
Observation-Disclosures.
GOOD THOROUGHFARES.
Like Charity, This Writer Thinks, The
should Begin at Home.

GOOD THOROUGHFARES.
Like Charity, This Writer Thinks, 1heI
Should Begin Mt Home.
All things considered-yOuth anc
oyergrowth. ineNpcrience and careless
ness, and. in the majority of cases, lacl
of opportunity to judge by comparison
the United States has kept reasona
BILE pace with other nations in the mat
ter of roadways. There is an appalling
territory to be covered. beside which
the establishing of good roads in Eu
ropean countries seems like child's play
One OF the chief troubles in America has
been the rapid development of our ire
mendous railway system. which has
absorbed the time, attention and cap
ital of men and companies who have
given thought to conditions of com
munications between districts. Far
reaching and essential as this mode oi
conveyance is, il must be remembered
that the finest railroad in the world ii
no way lessons the local need of good
roads in the communities through
which it passes.
While one naturally expects 10 find
the greatest degree of comfort in these
matters in the oldest settlements, it is
"a fact beyond dispute that the younger
cities of the west are far better paved
than eastern cities generations older.
while country roads in populous dis
tricts average as good. In no other
matter do men go easily reconcile them
selves to Indifferent and inefficient serv-
ice. The amount of discomfort en-
dured daily in cities paved with granite
blocks, for instance, is past computa-
ton. Irregular of surface. noisy, dirty,
hard alike on horse and ON vehicle. this
barbarous system has had but one
merit TO recommend it, u is durable.
Considering its manifold discOmfOTts.
this is rather fault than virtue.
Other materials are durable. cleaner.
more comfortable in every respect, and
yet are vigorously fought against by
partisans of the granite blocks. who are
jounced about in carriages and deaf
ened by noise without realizing the
degree of discomfort TO which they
subject themselves. No sane man would
elect TO wear a hair-cloth shirt because
ii was durable and seldom required
change, for he would consider the many
forms of creature comfort sacrificed
TO this sort of economy. Yet few peo-
pie seem TO realize that granite pave
ments are the hair shirts of commune
ties. and that the day for notifying
the flesh has long gone past i'll civilized
countries.
Good thOroughfareS like charity,
should begin at home. On the day
ful investigation and satisfactory tests,
unbiased by bribery, preferment or
political affinity and reward. cOmpels
by act of law the laying of whatever
form of paving has been demonstrated
as best for city and country use-on
that day the millennium may be de-
scribed approaching. Then the Amer
lean tally-ho coach will exist with
reason. because of land not despite
the lack of fitting reads along which
~ roll its picturesque expense. Parties
planning pedestrian tours will not have
10 cross the seas TO find starting-point
for their itinerary: country homes will
be more sought for and more enjoyed:
and the native American will begin to
form an acquaintance with the I'M
beauties of his own land.
based upon something besides snapshot
gliIupSeS from railroad train. and
deepeued into an interest and admira-
tion made possible only through the
intimacy begOtten of good roads,
Marion Manyilie Pope. in Lippincott's
Mn r-,yina