The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-02
GOOD ROADS.
Their Construction Would Be Bene-
fetal TO All Classes.

Otto Dorner.
/ was talking with a Western newspaper
man on good roads recently. He gave two
reasons for warmly advocating the cause
of good roads.
'In the first place." said he, Il deem it
my duty as an editor, as a citizen-my duty
to the communicate advocate the building
of good roads, and find pleasure in COM
mending all classes who lena assistance in
building up sentiment in favor of good
roads. / have often commended the riders
of the wheel generally, and the League of
American Wheelmen in particular, for the
very marked part they have taken in agi-
tating, in a wholesome and effective way,
in favor of good roads. AT first I thought
these wheelmen, organized and morgan
lied, had only themselves and their COM
fort in view, but as soon as / discovered
that the benefits and the pleasures they
would derive from a system of good roads
dwindled into almost insignificance COM
pared with the benefits which the farmer,
the merchant, the manufacturer, profess
sional men of all classes and the newspa-
per people would derive, | soon felt differ
entity toward them. Indeed, / have felt
grateful to them, for 1t must be admitted
that they have been a very tower of
strength in demonstrating the value of good
roads.
Yes, sir, 1 deem it as much my duty as
IN editor to favor the building of good
roads as | do to favor Improvement in our
educational nstitutions-in our religious in
stitutionS-improvement in manufactures,
in trade-improvement in all other direc-
TONS
The newspaper man seemed inclined to let
the matter drop there. He had said there
were two reasons why he advocated good
roads. / wanted to know the other reason,
and finally asked him to give it.
Gniiin0 ha Gai6 q. eft c 50 CnlHCh M
purely selfish, and yet / do not know why /
must know, the whole human family has a
vein of S~elfishness and / sometimes think
that that is just as necessary as any other
vein we possess. l advocate good roads be-
cause good roads will help my business
put money in my purse-will enable me TO
buy new type, better presses, enlarge my
paper, extend my acquaintance. You ask
in what direction. First and surest Of all
is that good roads will increase prosperity
among farmers, add to their wealth, add to
the value of everything they possess, enable
on everything they raise, because they can
market it much more cheaply. What does
that mean? 1t means an increase of trade
for the merchants. And what does that
mean? That means a greater willingness
on the part of the merchants to advertise
in my paper-fn all papers. Don't you see
the point? That is the selfish side of t."
| think my friend reasoned well. ] think
most readers will say he told the truth.
One of the many encouraging signs in con-
nection with the good roads movement Is
the fact that there is almost no men in
prominent official positions, prominent in
the professions, as merchants, editors, man.
ufacturers, as statesmen or farmers, who
are not prompt, when interviewed, to ex-
press themselves in hearty sympathy with
every endeavor in the direction of good
roads. This could not have been said with
lie sentiment in favor of better roads has
been as rapid as it has been wholesome.