St. Paul daily globe., 1895-08-03
A NEGLECTED IMPROVEMENT.

1O4 lGOlC hllllS II ldSlS.
A NEGLECTED IMPROVEMENT.
The reports of the census enumer-
ators throughout the state show that
the greatest difficulty which they
have met with in their work is the
bad condition of the country roads.
This is the more remarkable at this
time of year, when our roads are at
their best and present fewest OBJ
stacles to travel. If any complaint
can be made against them at this
season, when the hard soil is beaten
into the best roadway that it is ca
pable of making, what must not be
said of them in the fall, winter and
spring? It is true that the greatest
obstacle to the development Of Min
nesota, and the cause of greatest
loss to the farming population, is
the absence of improved highways.
Everybody knows it. There has been
OH dC1I VI lollrAlllS dDOul II,
and still no practical move has been
made for road improvement. We
propose to continue the agitation of
this subject until something is done
1t will be long campaign. Strange
ly enough, it is almost always most
difficult to get people to take care
of the interests that lie just in front
of their noses. A man will indulge
in long arguments on the tariff or
+ the silver question, and the alleged
effect of political policies on his per-
sonal interests, while the condition of
the highway that runs in front of his
farm, and which he must traverse in
order to reach the village store and
postofice, or the grain elevator
where his produce must be marketed,
is such as to cost him hundreds of
dollars every year.
This is not matter of conjecture
or theory. 1t has no element of
novelty in it. The experience of the
older countries of the world has
shown that the construction of high
ways that will be smooth and solid
at all seasons of the year is an in
dispensable condition of high civ
ilization. Reformers who have
studied the subject in this country
have proved mathematically that
the farmers of the United States lose
more money every year on account
of bad roads than they do by crop
failures or by the Vaccinations of
politicians, spectators and railroad
combines put together. We do not
| say that the farmer should not fight
for every advantage and every right
that belongs to him. We do say
that he ought not to neglect, or to
sink to the second place, a question
that is absolutely vital to his pros
| perity. OF the social effects of road
| Improvement, and the added charm
| that it. gives to country life, we do
not need now to speak The cold,
practical, hardheaded view of the
| question is enough. There is money
| for the farmer in the construction of
good country roads. 1t is tre-
mendous undertaking, and cannot be
| carried through without organiza-
| ton behind it. Until the farmers
! themselves are impressed with a cor
rect view of their interests and are
ready to take the initial steps, it is
reasonably sure that nothing will be
| done.
This subject, therefore, is one that
should be kept constantly before
them. 1t should be a leading topic
| at farmers institutes. 1t should be
talked about and recommended wher-
ever half dozen farmers meet to-
gether for. any purpose. It should
be a constant theme of the country
newspaper. Nothing will do so
much to add to the pecuniary advan-
tage of farm life, and to promote
the growth and business of the small
cities and towns of the state, as
uninterrupted communication every
where by the furnishing of good
| roads. If the farmers in any sec
| ton will set together, organize for
road improvement and put their
shoulders to the wheel, the reform
can be accomplished. 1t will have to
be done by this method. The farm
ers representing a certain area must
plan for road improvement within
it. They must agree to bear GER
tain amount of local taxation for
that purpose. They must appeal to
the township and to the county for
proper assistance. When this has
been done, when the work is actual
ly going forward, when there is a
beginning of the creation of perma-
nent improved highways throughout
Minnesota, then the state can be
called upon to bear its share of the
work, and it's part will be performed.
Nothing can add more to the wealth
of Minnesota and to the comfort
and prosperity of it's people. If farm
ers in this state will but set in motion
a crusade for better country roads,
they will do more, not only for the
community at large, but for their in
dividual interests, than any of their
organizations has yet accomplished,
or than they could wrest from any