The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1896-07-23
Suggestions as. to Their
Improvement.
GOOD ROADS INDICATE CIVILIZATION.
II III SE
They Make Intercourse Easier, Work
Less Bnrdensome, ana Life
More Enjoyable.

LIS. JVOnNAL SlVAA1A0tAOu u00
Teen well defined as the aggregate
manifestation of the mastery which
mind has attained over matter
among a given people at given
time.'' This definition will bear
careful thought, and few physical
tests more Immediately indicate the
degree of civilization which a COM
munity has attained than does the
condition OF it's streets and roads.
Good roads make intercourse more
easy, work less burdensome, life
more enjoyable, and, in fact, they
are an index of the progressiveness
aad civilization Of a. community.
There are . great many important
considerations involved in the good
roads question. Net simply com
fort end convenience in the daily
intercourse Of socisl life, bat eco
nomical considerations of vast i'm
portance are involved in the ques-
tion OF improved roads throughout
our country. The most cursory
study of statistics showing the dis
lance over the average wagon roads
Of our country, through which o
loaded wagon viii pay its own
transportation, is . convincing OBJ
| ject lesson to any man concerning
the wealth producing, labor saving,
food cheapening effect of good roads.
A farm twelve miles from railroad
station in o district with good roads
10 worth more per acre than farm
/ equally as good only Tires smiles
from the station, where the roads
are as bad rs they are in many
farming districts in this country.
Every citizen ought to be equally
interested in good roads. IT'S true
the farmers will be the principal
beneficiaries from road reform, but
the benefits will be extended to all
classes. And it's effects upon bust
ness is bound to be of the greatest
Importance. The movement to.
wards road reform should command
the attention and support of every
citizen. And wherever a man is
found with moss covered, craw-fsh
ideas of progression, he should be
made an especial object of consid-
Grafton by his neighbors. Now,
just as long as the present system
of road law is in. force, just that
long may the people expect to have
bad roads to travel. Just before
court sets in, March and Novem-
Der, ere the two seasons of the year
when less benefit is derived than
ANY other time, yet the law says
You shall work the roads, irrespec-
tive of the condition the roads are
in either before or after they are
worked. The. law says you mast 90
through the formality, because its
the law, as soon asits functions are
obeyed the laws interest in the
matter ends. If you meet with an
accident in travelling over bad
road, where its condition is trace
able directly to the fact of it's hav-
ing been worked according to law,
does the law settle with you for the
damage? | guess not! Just as
long as you elect Legislators who
enact unjust, nonsensical laws, you
will have to "grin and bear it, lun-
til you have had experience enough
to learn you a little hard horse
sense. There is great deal more
actual value to the farmer, and cit
liens in general, in having good
roads, than there IL in politics. The
best practical method that has ever
suggested itself to me for the lasting
Improvement of our public roads is,
tirst, to abolish the present road
system, then enact law compelling
every land owner to improve and
maintain the improvement OF the pub
lie road in front Of his own proper
ty, and allow him the privilege to
exercise his own judgment and con-
venience as to when he shall per-
form the labor, only so he keeps
| the road in good repair. / feel
confident if the above suggestion is
put into practice, we will have
roads that will not only be benefit
to the community, but pleasure to
ride upon.
Vnr-. e.. ulf: ~