Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1896-08-15
GOOD ROADS CHEAPEST.
Some Sensible Observation Made by .
nrfssuurl Farmer.

Some Sensible Observation Made By .
Missouri Farmer.
During the last winter the roads welo
never in a worse condition. Their bad
effects were seriously felt in oil the
marts of trade. A quarantine would not
have closed the avenues of trade and
communication more perfectly. And IL
holding board meetings, writing and
talking would have built them, the time
would have been profitably spent. But
while agitation may be necessary, TO a
certain extent, it requires something
more substantial to build them. And
whenever q community manifests an
earnest desire to have good roads, there
Is always q way 70 have them. In early
days when the population was sparse,
and there was but little travel, a mere
trail through the woods was considered
sufficient; and roads could be changed
as often as necessary. But times have
changed. All the land that could be-
used for agricultural purposes is in
closed, and, sink or swim, or stick in the
mud, we are compelled to confine our
selves TO the established highway.
Moreover, where there was one load of
produce marketed so years ago there is
100 marketed to-day, and all the various
kinds of trade, traffic and travel have ip-
creased proportionately.
But good roads cannot he made with
out labor; and labor means money; and
here lies the great obstacle to be over
come In building good roads. A large
majority Of taxpayers are u~nalterably
opposed to the expense of building them,
overlooking the great fact hat good
roads ost less than bad ones. 1t is q
well established fact that all our civil
lied comforts are expensive. But are we
going to recede from the refined infiu-
ences of civilization because they cost
something's Nay, verify. Good roads,
like churches and all charitable institu-
tions, exert a civilizing influence wher-
ever they are located, and in
moro ways than one the money spentin
building them finds its way back into
the pockets Of those who build them.
They draw immigration and enhance
the value of every acre Of land with
in n reasonable distance. They save the
wear and tear of harness and vehicles.
The merchant, the farmer, the mcchan-
&c and the day laborer all get their por-
ton, and the whole community Is bene-
flied thereby.
] don't believe there would be any
great hardship If there were n law com-
polling every owner of land on the pub
lie highway to make n good road, and
keep it in good condition ms far as his
land extends. The owner would simply
be advancing the value Of his own
property, and it would go far in solving
the problem Of good roads. But road
building is n trade, just the same as
blacksmithing or any other trade, and
the old custom OF electing or appoint
ing inexperienced men as road over
seers has worked out it's legitimate re-
suits In making bad roads. So far as
the condition Of the roads in my own
county is concerned, the thousands of
dollars spent in the last 20 years might
just as we'll have been dumped in the
river. Road overseers and engineers
should be men of Judgment in their
calling and build with an eye to pcrma-
nency by using i~ndestructible material.
Many states that cannot boast Of the
wealth and population thatw We have are
moving right along in building good
rock roads. What is the matter with
poor old Missouri?-C. Glover, in Jour.
nal of Agriculture.