Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1896-01-30

who know whereof they speak, are the
most earnest workers for improved
roads.
In recent letter, the general passeh-
ger agent Of the Maine Central railroad
said:
III some Of our legislative friends could
travel throughout the country as much as
I have and see the wonderful growth Of
certain localities In the way of horses,
carriages, bicycles, ETC.. where good roads
abound, and the very many claims which
exist In their favor. they would. l am sure
at the last session of the legislature have
viewed the matter in very different light.
II know for n certainty that there Is
nothing now which the state Of Maine
could do to Increase It's interest more than
by the efforts for good roads.
EVERY locality would be benefited, 1t
not being confined to any particular one
and visitors to our state would thus be
induced to remain longer. and Of course,
would leave more money within our bor-
ders, and. as intimated, this is but ono OF
the many lines of argument which might
be offered for general agitation of the
matter throughout the United States, as
tending to the early bringing about Of
something which must eventually come"
But there is yet much preparatory
work to be done in educating the pub
lie mind, or rather the lack of 1t. The
mossback may like mud, simply be-
cause he has not been made to see
things in their right light.
And hert is sample Of what some ed
ltors are still giving their readers. 1t is
clipped from recent issue of Penn
sylvania paper:
Ever since the bicycle sprang into gen.
eral favor as a road machine, there has
been a cry from wheelmen for better roads.
That seems to be their hobby. AS 8 rule,
very few wheelmen are property owners
and have no road tax to pay. The farmers
| are the ones who must bear this burden.
Talk Is cheap and that is one reason why
wheeltien do so much of It.
| Good roads are enjoyed more by wheel
men than any other class. They do great
| deal of travelling and have the benefit of
roads without paying cent. Now II these
| good road agitators are consistent let them
help to keep the roads In good repair. To
| accomplish this end let them show their
| loyalty by advocating an annual tax Of
| five dollars or less OIL every bicycle, to
| be devoted to the maintenance OF our pub
| lie highways. Consistency is q jewel.
How many wheelmen are willing to as
sist In such movement2"
How much have the wheelmen assist
ed in securing good roads?
They are to be credited with the
whole good roads movement, and about
every improvement made in public
highways, of general nature, that has
been made in years.
How much injury have the wheelmen
done to the roads?
Not particle. The wheel is road
maker, and the use of 1t benefits rather
than Injuries a.road.
For farmers who would be brought
close to market, increase the value of
their farms, add TO the pleasure of liv-
ing, save money on wear and tear of
vehicles, be merciful to their beasts and
keep the boys on the farm and not
isolate them from the world and society
by barriers of impossible highways, no
goodroads argument is necessary.
For them to refuse to build good
roads for fear bicycler may enjoy rid
ing over them is the extreme of idiocy.
If the editor of the paper above re-
fcrred to lived on the bank Of q river he
had occasion to cross every day he
would prefer to swim back and forth
rather than to span it with log, that
some wayfarer might incidently pass
over.
The dog in the manger is still alive
and growing. But the world moves
toward higherand better things.
Roads.