The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1901-08-09
- D
God Roads R5tss
9,IIfspf
Inthe south.


~ zens OF several OF the South
y 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
yentions are held In many Of the cities
and towns, and the subject of good
roads Is discussed and dilated 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 10 Impress upon the people that
the maintenance in their respective
localities of roads that are sensibly,
not to say scientifically, constructed
is a 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 invarious 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
residents in three large towns of
Louisiana. A progressive landholder
says:
1T is for the agricultural interests
to realize that they can haul twice as
much of their products over a good
road as over one poorly kept. I 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
in bringing hither capital and immi-
grafton"
A large Louislanan 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 e.
peditious way of building up and de-
veloping the resources of a country
than by the construction and main
tenance of good roads. They win al
ways invite the home-seeker, as well
as the capitalist, each of whom is as
sured Of easy transportation to mar
ket for his produce, as well as of edu-
catlonal religious and other advan-
tages incident to such a combination
Of happy circumstances"
A prominent lawyer and planter
says:
1.-THE absence of good roads fire.
quently means a lower market when
products reach their destination; 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 rur
train, specially equipped for practi
cal road making, from New Orleans
to Chicago. The "Good Roads spe
clal," as it is called, has already giyer
demonstrations in road building a
New Orleans, Natchez and Vicksburg
1t then proceeded northward an(
stopped at fifteen or more places. A
each place a specimen road at least ;