The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1897-11-10
KEEP ON AGITATlNG.
It's the Only Way to Arouse interest
in Good ROada.


The difficulty in arousing interest in
the cause of improved highways has
often surprised those who were con-
WINGED of their Importance, and has
sometimes discouraged them. 1t is ten
years, now, since the league instituted
its active and aggressive good roads
campaign. Great results have been
achieved, but there is yet much to be
done. There are still extensive rural
districts in which the people are
apathetic, in spite of the efforts of the
press and OF organized clubs all over the
country.
In the more sparsely settled districts,
and especially in many parts of the
west. il is claimed that activity in rail-
road construction has prevented ex-
penditure of much energy and capital
in building good roads. The people and
the state legislatures are interested in
the railway problem; they are agitat-
ing for railroad Notwithstanding to
secure them-and until this is accom-
plished the question of better wagon
roads is in allegiance. In the older states,
such as Massachusetts and New Jersey,
where so much has been done, the
growth of railroad building has nearly
reached its maximum, so that with
their denser population they are in
position TO take hold of their common
roads.
But even allowing for ali this, it is
proving slow task tC awaken all classes
OF the population to the positive values
to them Of better roads. In comment
ing on the conditions that exist in Kan
sas, the Topeka Capitol says that 1.-The
farmers of such states as Kansas, where
the roads are as bad as they possibly
can De, and where the loss is heaviest to
the producers who are obliged to stay
out of the market during an important
part of the year because of impossible
roads, apparently pay no attention to
this all-important subject. It is the
conservative and careful estimate of the
government at Washington that the
people Of the United States lose every
year no less than 100000, 900 by reason
Of impossible or defective roads, the
loss being mainly borne by the farmers.
1t requires the entire wheat crop every
year to pay the loss to farmers occa-
stoned by bad roads. This is no fanci-
full estimate, but is below rather than
above the truth. Students Of road max
ing who are familiar with the results OF
the excellent roads Of old world coun-
tries estimate that bad roads cost the
western farmers IS per cent. of every
thing he buys. There is in reality no
subject of more Importance to the farm
ers than road improvement, and there
is none in which the average farm
er takes less apparent interest. No
state in the union has. more to gain by
active road reform, beginning with the
adoption of wide tires, than Kansas. It
has been profitable elsewhere to remit
the road tax of all farmers using wide
tires, and no doubt the same policy
would work to advantage in this state"
The present time is good one to in
crease the agitation for highway i'm
proVement. II the matter is brought
forcibly to the attention of the farmers,
they may be made to realize its direct
Importance to them. Crops are abun-
dant and find ready sale. With the
coming wet weather and deteriorating
roads viii come an object lesson which
should be used by the press and all
good roads advocates to srengthen
their arguments. The farmer can then
count in dollars and cents the loss en-
tailed on him from inability to get to
market easily and cheaply. He is in
better Position now than he has been
for some time to undertake the work.
No other investment will pay him so
we'll
In some sections these facts are aD-
preciated and every effort is being made
TO secure road Improvements. County
Commissioner Clark, in Pennsylvania,
says: L have never seen in Allegheny
county such enthusiasm as there is over
this movement. Everybody is interest
ed. The law is well received every
where, and people go out of their way
tc get the facts before US. The office Is
crowded daily with delegations, and the
people meet US when they know we are
coming and furnish ali the information
they can, even, as in the case of the
Windgap road, getting up plans at their
own expense" Such conditions offer
great encouragement to further work,
and should prove strong incentive
Good Roads.