Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-01-02
COMMUNICATED.
COMMUNICATED.
AROUSING PUBLIC INTEREST ON
THE SUBJECT OF GOOD ROADS.

%
THE SUBJECT OF GOOD ROADS.
The United States Department of Ag-
riculture is doing a good work in
awakening general interest in favor OF
road Improvement. General Roy
Stone has charge of o bureau specially
devoted to the collection and dissent
nation of facts concerning road build
ing, the original cost and the
cost of keeping them in order and
the advantage and profit of good,
over bad roads. This bureau
has published much interesting litera.
ture bearing upon the subject. This
may be obtained free by addressing
Gen. Roy Stone, care of the depart.
ment.
We need Campaign of education
on this subject. Everybody knows we
need better roads. We must have
them. They are of more importance
than all tariffs or financial laws.
1t is no easy task, however, to bring
about reforms, overcome prejudices
produce radical change of methods,
combat a falsely styled conservatism
and create healthy public sentiment.
But there can be no result without an
efort-earnest,e enthusiastic effort. Read
about roads! write about roads! talk
about roads!
How to raise money to build them
and to take care of them can best be
learned by the experience of others
those who have been stuck in the mud Of
the old system but are now hauling over
good roads. Write to General Stone
and he will send you pamphlets that
tell all about how it can be managed.
1t is mistake to suppose that people
in rown or city are not interested in
the question of good roads. No town
or city prospers like that who has 0
thriving agricultural community to feed
it. Good roads stimulate and facilitate
trade, and add to the comfort, convent
ence and pleasure of the people. They
affect not only the business interests Of
the farmer, but those of the merchant
the professional man, the mechanic,
and the entire community.
If it be true that people are judged
by the character of their roads, what
may be said of Alexandria and the
thoroughfares leading into it? Let the
road beyond Hunting creek, especially
as far as Spring Bank farm, or the three
roads diverging from Cameron run
bridge to Accotink, Occoquan and
Burke's station, answer. And then the
approaches to either bridge, from the
city side, can't be Dragged on as an OBJ
iect lesson in road building.
Much of the market trade of Alex.
andria is hauled over these roads. They
were bad forty years ago and they are
bad yet. Can any one tell the differ
ence in price or the loss of profit that
their use has curtailed?
If the "Woodlawn Farmers Club
will pardon the suggestion, the ques,
ton is asked Would it not pay them
to discuss and figure over the extra ex.
pense of hauling their crops to market
after they are raised, and their. failure
often to get higher prices because Of
time lost on bad roads? The cost Of
hauling over good and bad roads makes
vast difference between profit and
loss and often eats up the former. 1t is
poor argument to say that our fathers
left us bad road and we will drive in
to the woods and 60 around as some.
body else has done.
Driving over bad roads imposes ex-
ira burdens upon the teams, Injuries or
breaks the wagon, cart or harness,
ca1,eaa Iosa of time and nroyOke3 and
irritates the driver. CALVIN.