The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1901-07-04

zens of several OF the South
III ern and Middle Western
States. notably Louisiana.
Mississippi. Illinois and Tennessee, In
favor of improving the highways. is
Just now at white heat. Under the
direction of the National Good Roads
Association mass meetings and con-
ven ions are held In many of the cities
and towns, and the subject of good
roads Is discussed and dllated upon
everywhere by champions of the
movement with earnestness and un-
derstanding. On the strength of the
benefits which. Enthusiastically, have
resulted from smooth and permanent
highways wherever they have been
built, the good roads agents are striv
ing to impress upon the people that
the maintenance in their respective
localities of roads that are sensibly,
not to say scientifically. constructed
is duty they owe to themselves and
to succeeding generations. The agi-
tation certainly is producing impor-
tant results.
Leading newspapers in the States
mentioned are doing much to help
along the work. The New Orleans
Times Democrat, for example. has
printed a series of interviews with
representative citizens in various parts
of Mississippi and Louisiana, and
they leave no doubt of the sincerity
and vigor with which the good roads
movement is conducted. We quote
some extracts from interviews with
Louisiana. A progressive landholder
says:
1T is for the agricultural interests
to realize that they can haul twice as
much of their products over Il good
road as over one poorly kept. 1 don't
know anything better for this parish
than the Inauguration OF a movement
of this kind"
A prominent physician expresses
himself thus:
Good roads, like good schools, are
the most inviting objects to immigra-
ton. Coupled with the fertility of
our soil, good roads will surely result
Ill DrluSluS ulthcl Cdpitdi anu ithhti
grafton"
A large Louisianan planter takes
this view of the matter:
Good roads are an object lesson to
the capitalist. home seeker and man
of moderate means. Wherever he
sees good roads he is assured that it is
a community in which he can safely
invest. satisfied that he will have good
schools. quick and easy transporta-
ton of produce to and from market,
and everything which can be desired
in an enlightened and Christian COM
munity."
Here are the opinions of a wide
awake farmer of the same State:
There is no surer, safer or more e1-
peditious way of building up and de-
veloping the resources of country
than by the construction and main
tenance of good roads. They will al
ways invite the home-seeker. as well
as the capitalist, each of whom is as
sured of easy transportation to mar
Ret for his produce, as well as of edu-
cational, religious and other advan-
tages incident to such a combination
OF happy circumstances"
A prominent lawyer and planter
says:
THE absence of good roads fire.
quently means lower market when
products reach their destinations; loss
and delay from the failure to receive
articles promptly when needed, and a
large loss resulting from the wear and
tear OF vehicles and horses and pay
ment of increased time to teamsters."
We might go on quoting almost in
definitely similar opinions gathered
by the Times-DemOcrat from citizens
of Louisiana and Mississippi--muni-
cipal officers, bank presidents cler-
gymen. wholesale and retail mer-
chants, farmers and others.
The good roads sentiment in the
part of the country referred to has
been greatly stimulated by the recent
undertaking on the part of the Ma
tional Good Roads Association and
the Illinois Central Railroad, to run
train, specially equipped for practi-
cal road making, from New Orleans
to Chicago. The Good Roads Spe'
cial," as 1t is called, has already given
demonstrations in road building at
New Orleans, Natchez and Vicksburg.
It then proceeded northward and
stopped at fifteen or more places. AT
each place a specimen road at least n
mile long was constructed and left as
an object lesson to people who would
like to have open highways twelve
months in the year.-New York Sun.
Improvement in Country Roads.
Americans have never been slow
about doing things, but we may be
said to be slow about doing some
things well 1t was not. for example,
until the bicycle came into vogue that
people thought very seriously about
good roads, and even yet In many
parts OF the country, especially through
the middle West and the South. the
buggy and carriage are alike stored
away for three or four months out of
the year. the roads being in no condi'
tlon for any such vehicles. And even
when the bicycle became so popular.
bicycle riding was confined very large.