The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-09
GOOD ROADS AND GOOD TRADE.

In the course Of a business letter to the
Morning News, Mr.. Theo G. Eyer, traffic
manager Of the clyde Steamship Company,
writes: Il believe that with good roads, the
motor wagon viii DO much towards inn
proving the commercial interests Of the
South Atlantic ports; but leaving the mo
tor wagon out of the question, good roads,
facilitating intercourse between the peo-
pie, will be of iucalculabe benefit in pro
noting the material interests of your cit
liens. Heretofore the trade con
trolled by city has been limited by the
distance wagons could reach in one day
say thirty miles. with the advent OF the
motor wagon this circle should be en-
tended fully 100 miles"
We believe it is risking nothing to as
sert that wherever country highways
have been improved aud permanently har-
dened, the communities thus opened up TO
better. easier and cheaper communication
have enjoyed a degree Of prosperity and
contentment unknown up to the time Of
the Improvement of such roads In this
county we are beginning to see the benefits
of good country roads in the bringing I'M
der cultivation of many tracts that had
been idle for years, and would probably
have remained unproductive for years 10
come except for the very thorough sys-
tenn of good roads which Chatham county
has projected and pretty nearly completed.
The main lines of this system, it is to be
hoped, will be continued until they OK
tend at least days journey for a motor
wagon from the city. In Mecklenburg
county, North Carolina, the good roads
movement has attained to considerable
proportions, and the city of Charlotte is
reaping a rich harvest of increased trade
as consequence.
We published two or three weeks ago an
exhaustive article on motor wagons for
heavy hauling. 1t showed that these
horseless vehicles have been tested with
very gratifying success in the city of Liv
erpool and that they will hereafter be
regularly employed in trucking, draying
and other heavy work. At the present
time it is probably true that the automo-
bile, or motor wagon, suited to farm work
has not been produced. A cheap and re-
liable motive power that can be operated
y
plies and expert machinists in the cities.
and at a price within the reach of the far
mer has not yet been put upon the mar
ket But that such an apparatus viii be
perfected is only a question of a short
time The inventors are on the right line,
and probably within five years time they
wiz have ready for business a motor wa
gon capable of doing the work of six
horses at cost of less than the keep of
two horses, and so simple and safe that
any person of intelligence can operate it,
And the cost price of it will be not great
cr than that OF the animals it will sup
plant
Motor vehicles FOR pleasure riding have
already made their appearance in this sec
ton Of the country Similarly propelled
vehicles for commercial and agricultural
purposes will inevitably follow. both
cheapening aud quickening transportation.
But, it should be borne in mind to get the
best results, such vehicles must have i'm
proved highways 10 travel upon. They win
not give best results through sand beds
and mud holes. Good road building,
therefore, should be prosecuted vigorously,
not only in anticipation of the horseless
age. but because they will save stock and
expenses and increase land values even
while we are driving horses and mules
Good roads represent investments which
mean increasing business and prosperity
to the communities through which they,
pass.