The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1899-07-01
A Farmer ON GOOD Roads

A Farmer ON Good Roads.
Balaam's ass called its masters at
tention to the bad roads and has
voiced the sentiments. of, thousands of
dumb and patient brutes that have be-
come spawned. CALLED. wind-broken
and f%oundered in dragging their heavy
loads to market.
A good road is not only q good in
vestment, but will pay a hundred per
cent every year on its cost, raises the
value of every acre, shortens distance.
saves time, wagons, horse flesh and
harness, increases the load and les
sens the burden, and makes it posi-
BILE to haul two tons to market with
the same power that now leaves one
ton stuck in the mire. Good roads also
bring us closer together, makes neigh
bors Of hermits, discounts every farm
mortgage and brings joy and content
ment to every community. Imagine a
man xnee-deep in the mud trying to
look cheerful.
Eternal shame to the man who tries
to dodge the road tax and still more
the commissioner, VINO, elected upon
his pledge for better roads, is false to
his promise, and rides rough shod ove.
the wishes of the people.
Road tax is the tribute which saw
agery pays to civilization, the entrance
fee to community life, and by which
the wonderful internal development Of
a country is brought about.
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 land every honest 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
a pen. increase u solitude, keep our
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 the
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 of our
farms, of the slack supply and good
prices when roads are impossible, and
then think of the procession of far
mers that rush to town and glut the
market in the first day of dry weather,
and think of the paltry 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
answe 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, in
stead of seeking employment in the
overcrowded cities, the unemployed
population Of the cities will pour into
the country, while the cities them
selves will thrive and flourish, drawing
life and health and wealth from all
roads r%adiating into a country that
will blossom like a rose.-A Farmer in
L. A. w. Bulletin.