The Conway log cabin., 1900-09-25
Our County Roads.

so well known to thinking people, they need scarcely be enumerated. I know of no high priced lands where they are not found; nor oi any good roads where there are not high priced lands. They go hand ill hand. The saving i'll wear and tear of vehicles will be inn mense. The loads carried to mar ket by the same team will be doub- led and in some cases quadrupled. Many neighborhoods can raise fruits and vegetables for market that now cannot. The time oi making a trip will be greatly les sened. Buggies, bicycles and all pleasure carriages will be more largely used. Country life be comes more attractive to the young and the boy wilt no longer want to leave the farm. Farmers will seek locations near such roads. Schools and churches will increase in num- Der and attendance. Rulal free delivery of mails will follow and our people will pc elevated and made much happier.
 have heard some objections raised to the law, which l will no- tice. One man said to me he would favor the law, Il no labor i'll kind were required. This would be manifestly unfair. Why should the young man, who rides and drives over the roads constantly with his father team, pay nothing to keep them lip? Why should the triffling negro, who is too shiftless ever to own any property, drive or walk over roads he does not help to builde Why should all the benefits of government and society be secured to such charac- ters free of charge? They are re- quired to do military duty and pay poll-taxes for school support, then why not also help in making roads? Really the law lightens the bur dens of this class largely, by mak- ing property bear its share.
 It has all along been true that these men did all that was done. Now the railroad and other corpo- rations and all of the wealth of the land must contribute to the work. And this is plainly just. Why should my wealthy neighbor send out his half dozen teams to haul his bountifu1 crops over roads which his money did not help to build? Why should man, over road age, enjoy good roads all the balance of his life and pay nothing for the privilege? The present plan combining labor and money, is really the most just and sensible that can be devised. No roads can be, or ever were, built without money. Under the new law we have both labor and money and both are required to solve the prob lem.
 Another man complains that he does not want his boy to have to work under a boss. We'll by pay ing 75 cents day, he can avoid it. But the truth is, every labor CT, in every walk in life, not only needs, but has a boss. If a father does not boss his boy, he goes to the dogs. If farmer does not boss his hands, or a merchant his clerks, or manufacturer his em- ployees, or a steamboat mate his roustabouts, or a school teacher her pupils, no good results will fol- low. It is idle to talk of making roads without a boss.
 But the common cry is Cit will raise taxes" Yes, but to an map preciable degree. The average farmer in this county pays on a valuation of say 5000. Three mills on this sum would make $I.8o. It will cost this to fill one wagon wheel, broken ill mud hole. Not to count, as my friend Bolton says, the oaths some men would be saved by such all accident. The time and labor of teams used in making one trip to town by man living 10 miles off, will be worth the tax.