The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1899-05-31
.A Farmer" OH GOOD Roads.

ga Farmer" OH Good Roads.
Balaam's ass called it's masters
attention to the bad roads and has
voiced the sentiments of thousands
of dumb and patient brutes that
have become spawned, CALLED, wind
broken and foundered in dragging
their heavy loads to market.
A good road is not only n good
investment, but will pay hundred
per cent every year on its cost,
raises the value of every acre, short
ems distance, saves time, wagons,
horse-hesh and harness, increases
the load and lessons the burden,
and makes it possible to haul two
tons to market with the same
power that now leaves one ton
stuck in the miro. Good roads also
bring us closer together, makes
neighbors of hermits, discounts
every farm mortgage and brings
Joy and contentment to every COM
munity. Imagine man knee-deep
in the mud trying to look cheerful.
Eternal shame to the man who
tries to dodge the road tax and
still moro the commissioner, who,
elected upon his pledge for better
roads, is false to his promise, and
rides rough shod over the wishes
of the people.
Road tax is the tribute which
savagery pays to civilization, the
entrance fee to community life, and
by which the wonderful internal
development of a country is brought
about.
There is really but one argument
on good roads and that is in their
favor. We all know we have never
had good going, that our country
roads are about as bad as country
roads could possibly be, that they
are frost laden and wet and soft
and soggy in spring and fall, dry
and dusty in summer and rough
the year round.
AS farmers, let us admit that
these roads are bad (and evcry hon
est man will admit it), that they
keep us from town, and from each
other, that we can't get to market
when prices are good, that we are
hauling scant loads, racking our
wagons, killing our horses, and
rasping our tempers, that they keep
our wives shut up like cattle in l.
pom, increase our solitude, keep oul
children from school and send our
young men to the cities with a
solemn oath on their lips that they
will never till the soil.
Think of our harvests, think OF
money invested in farm implements
and in horses and mules TO drag
your crops to market and then
think of waiting for the mud to
"dry up" Think of the horses
and mules standing idle in the
stable, the cost per day for feed,
the loss of time and labor, the
dwarfed and shrunken values oil
our farms, of the slack supply and
good prices when roads are impass-
able, and think of the procession
Of farmers that rush to town and
glut the market on tho first day of
dry weather, and think of the pal.
try prices they get when everybody
is trying to sell to the overstocked
merchant.
How do you account for the gain
in town and city values as against
the large falling off in farm values
My answer is-poor roads.
Give us good, piked roads and
every acre of our farm lands will
double in value, our boys will till
the soil, instead of seeking employ
ment in the overcrowded cities, the
unemployed population of the cities
will pour into the country while
the cities, themselves will thrive
and flourish, drawing life and health
and wealth from all roads radiating
into country that will blossom
like the rose. A FARMER.
The announcement that Hon.
James B. Menager, of this place,
,uo,,I1 - Ioco-o H. Do,,c,,. 1 ; ,,