The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-08-08
GOOD ROADS CHEAPEST,
some Sensible Observations Made by o
Missouri Farmer.

&uAssOuTt n
During the last winter the roads were
never in IA worse condition. Their bad
effects were seriously felt III all the
marts of trade. A quarantine would not
have closed the avenues of trade and
communication mere perfectly. And if
holding board meetings, writing ard
talking would have built them. the time
would have been profitabiy spent. But
while agitation may be necessary, TO a
certain extent, it requires something
more suhstantia! 10 build them. And
whenever n community manifests an
earnest desire TO have good roads. there
IS always Il way to have them. In early
days when the population VA sparse,
and there was but little travel, a mere
trail through the woods was considered
sufficient; and roads could De 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 al e compelled to cOntine our
sclves to the established highway.
Moreover, where there was one load of
u oRhNE mai hCSth ~ ' u -
100 marketed to-day, and all the various
kinds of TRACE. traffic and travel have In
creased proportionately.
But good roads cannot he made with
out labor: and laborm means money; and
here lies the great obstacle TO be over
come in building good roads. \ large
majority of taxpayers are nnalterably
n,noanl +, +In y p of hlIilIin C thnno
overlooking the great tact that good
roads cost less than bad ones. It. is a
well established fact that all our civil
lied comforts are expensive. But are we
going to reccde from the refined intiu-
cnces of civilization because they cost
something? Nay, verify. Good roads,
like churches and all charitable institu-
tions. exert 4 civiliZing influence wher-
ever they are located, and in
more ways than one the money spent in
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 a reasonable distance. They save the
wear and tear of harness and vehicles.
4 ~ AliNI a. 'AR A"N -A' nan
ic and the day IabOrer all get their por-
ton. and the whole community is bene-
fitted thereby.
l don't believe there would be any
great hardship il there were Il law COM
pelling every owner of land on the pub
lie highway to make a good road, and
keep it in good condition as 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 a 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 its legitimate re-
suits in making bad roads. So far as
the condition of the roads in M own
county is concerned, the thousands of
dollars spent in the last 20 years might
Just as well have been dumped in the
river. Road overseers and engineers
should be men of Judgment in their
calling and build with an eye to perma-
nency by using indestructible material.
Many states hat cannot boast of the
wealth and population that we have are
moving right along in building good
rock roads. What is the matter with
poor old Missouri?-C. Glover, in Jour.
ual of Agriculture.