Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-04-28
AGRICULTURAL HINTS
SHOULD WORK TOGETHER.
Roads Agitation of the L. 4 W. Is by
No Means AntaEonssTIc TO the
FarmerS- Interests.


who Is al the head OF the League Of
American Wheelmen in its work for
better roads, delivered an address at
the national assembly OF that organiza-
ton, held at 81. Louis recently. which
Viii prove of much interest 10 farmers
al over the United States. he spoke
Oh the attitude of his organization TO-
wards the farmers, and Jelegraphic re-
port of his address appeared in : large
number OF papers throughout the cOun-
Try The interesting character Of Mr.
DOrner's remarks appears from the edi-
terial comment made thereon by the
Philadelphia Enquirer. which writes as
follows:
The address OF Mr.. Otto DoTner Is
being widely commented upon, esPe-
cially by the western press. as giving
the farmers a better understanding OF
what the league has been striving for
in the way OF road improvements Mr..
Dorner showed clearly that the league
had no intention OF anragonizing tha
farmer and of making him bear the
entire cost Of such Improvements In
fact. II was distinctly asserted that II
MAS the plan OF the advocates Of road
reform TO make the cities bear their
lust share Of constructing and main
tanning the highways, which are factors
IN their prosperity. The aim Is 10 CO.
operate with the farmer IN the work Of
improving MS facilities for getting his
products 10 market
That our readers may fully under
stand the aims Of the la w as out
lined by Mr. Dorner, we print POr-
ton of his address:
Farmers have been skeptical about
the good roads agitation conducted by
The L A w. and with reason. The
farmers constitute but a fraction Of the
population. Vet they have 70 build roads
for all Of Us 10 use. They have struggled
along at the roads. doing the best they
could in their own peculiar way. and
when the city people and wheelmen
Logan to contend that the country roads
should be radically improved farmers
have very naturally been led to believe
that their burden OF responsibility was
&c be increased and that their road
taxes were 10 be multiplied. while
the extent and character Of the pro-
posed Improvements was 10 be dictated
10 them. They have felt Il IN Just thai
they alone should be expected 10 grid
iron the United States with stone roads
II their own expense. while the con
sfruction OF canals has been heavily
subsidized. while rivers have been made
navigable by the government. and while
untold millions have been shoxeredl
upon railroads by cities. villages. couu-
ties states and the nation in stock and
bonds. subscriptions. cash donations
and grants OF boundless tracts Of pub
JIG lands. This sense of injustice has
been al the root Of the farmers skep-
ticism Of the good roads movement
But IL * not the purpose of the
League of American Wheelmen TO have
The farmer bear the cost of road i'm
p-Ovement and TO take its control out
Of the farmers hands We believe that
The farmer should nave a great deal.
YES nearly everything. to say upon the
subject We believe that the cities
should stand their share of the cost of
good roads This Is the purpose of our
efforts for state aiG. Our aim Is 10 see a
liberal share of the expense paid out of
the state tax. large part of which
would be paid by the large corpora
whom viii be benefited by good roads.
both directly and indirectly Proper
supervision should be established To
prevent waste OF road Improvement
funds
Every dollar spent must be made 10
! produce dollars worth of improve
ment- The roads first to be improved
/ are those leading from the farm TO the
( market and the railway stations. the
! roads over which the farmer hauls his
1 produce, and by the improvement of
! which millions upon millions of dollars
/ can be saved each year. This must not
/ be forced upon him; the farmer himself
/ must be given tie initiative and must
4 determine what improvements shall be
made.
Laws for road Improvements must be
4 permissive in their nature, not manda-
/ tory. This is the system of state aid
which is so popular with New Jersey
/ farmers and which it is our policy to
/ introduce in other states
Far from intending TO antagonize
| the farmer. we are endeavoring TO help
him. We want to help him.to get OUT
| of the mud. and want TO help him to
| avoid shouldering an unjust burden of
| taxes in getting out. Any policy of read
| improvement which is not in the farm
ers' interest is not our policy. We do
| not propose TO see roads built at the
| farmers expense for the benefit OF the
/ cities or of the whcelmen, and anv man
1 or body of men seeking to establish
such a Policy. whether they be real
/ estate companies. bicycle clubs, or any
others, will find us in opposition, stand
/ ing shoulder TO shoulder with the farm
| ers. Our aims and purposes are now
| coming TO be better understood. The
| past year has shown the agricultural
| societies and farmers institutes sec
/ ending the work of the league in the
| legislatures of eight different states.
| The Farmers National congress and
| other agricultural bodies have passee
| resolutions commencing our good roads
work. The movement for state aid has
| become familiar 10 them in their dis
| cussions. and has won their hearty ap-
/ proval. Another year OF two viii see
| the passage Of state aid laws in many
/ states in response to the united demand
/ of the League of American Wheelmer
| and the farmer organizations"
The Production of MIX.
L s. Hardin. in the Jersey Bulletin.
saws: Let US follow a mouthful of
| Grass through the COW ard see whether