The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1897-01-08
BIender
Has Something to say on the Good
Roads Question, in Reply to Hill
can Ben.

| COHCeTn' L hHD TOmpteu UT IutueI
compelled, not from an observatory
stand point, but from the real con-
dition of things to write an article
on this "good roads" question.
This matter is not an idle question
but of the gravest Importance to
every family in our county, no
matter what their occupation may
be; therefore it should receive cur
most earnest and careful attention
My courtesy shall mostly be drawn
In reply to the article Of "Ilillican
Ben" found on the editorial page OF
your worthy paper under date Of
Dec. % 1896. Now "Ben" you can
not imagine my surprise when ]
saw your article. In your previous
contest with "Farmer Friend" IN
this subject it was reported by RI
responsible authority that you was
a "dead bird" AMI | watched wi h
great anxiety for your obituary,
but from refusal, neglect, or some
other cause it failed to appear. ]
believed the report true and now
have arrived at this conclusion.
That you, being unwilling to be
hurried in country where you met
with such opposition, requested
your rem aims sent To the ancient
land OF Canaan for iuterment, and
in this you was brought in contact
with the bones Of the old prophet
Elisha and was restored to life. 1
am truly grateful that the engage
ment between you and "Farmer
Friend" proved TO you "a SAVIOR of
life unto life, and not Of death unto
DEATH" / appreciate very much
your zeal in the direction OF good
roads. You claim "none except
Traveller" has come to your relief,
also that you are "as good Repub-
lican as he is Democrat" If this
Is true, which we have no right to
deny, l would pray Cod to have
m ercy on your political condition.
Part of your article is very fair, but
when you are having your imdgina-
tions fixed on $4,000 farms in
Hooking Co. you are afflicted with
the same disease which hunters
used to get when they become eX-
cited and could not hit anything
namely "rhe Buck Fever" also
you say that good roads "acts as a
medium in the price and cost Of eX-
change between producer and con-
sumcr," therefore being a benefit
to both, which Is true. But in your
illustration you make this state
ment: "Then would itnot be better
for Mr.. A and his neighbo to build
a substantial way to market"
From this expression your plan is
for the farmer to be at all the ex-
pense of building the road, while
all classes of industry receive a
benefit from them. This is not my
plan, and l am inclined to believe
you are not a farmer or you would
not advocate such system. You
are strictly in favor of "road com
mission" and the ONLY reason you
give Is that "as the county COM
mssioners are cucumbered with
too many other affairs to give road
building proper attention,"1 would
highly emphasize the latter part Of
this clause "to give road building
proper attention" You surely
must have travelled over the new
pike from Logan to Webb Summit
or you would not make this state
ment. | am certain that you don't
doubt their ability in their official
business. If you do your political
condition is most critical. Why
Ben" if you had been around when
those parties were out for the Office
an heard them and their honor
able colleagues on the stump an
ally zing their qualifications for the
position, you would have been
comp lied to eXclaim "BehOll a
greater than Solomon is here" and
another thing "Ben" is. had these
affairs occurred under Democratic
administration instead Of the pre-
sent one, the Republican voice IN
Hooking County would be Gas the
sound OF many waters" G include
IN this the Republican press of Lo-
gan) but now they are as silent as
the grave. Why IL this? Has not
party affiliations a selfish interest
here? 1t certainly has, there was
an assertion m ade on the last day
Of the Institute by Mr.. Ed. s. Mar
tin Of New Straitsville in his lecture
on thiS OuastiOn that Iharn WAS on