The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-12-04
THE GOOD ROADS SPECIAL
Greenville Invites the People of the
State to the Good Roads COnven.
ton in December-The Great Need

Greenville Invites the People of the
State to the Good Roads Conven.
ton In December-The Great Need
OF the South.
On behalf of the citizens of Green
vile an invitation is extended to the
people of South Carolina to. visit our
city during the week beginning Mon
day, Dec. 10th, when the "Good Roads
Special" of the Southern Railway will
be here for the purpose of building
sample roads and holding meetings
with the view of teaching the people
in practical road building. This is the
only point in the Piedmont section
where the train will stop to do any
work, and every one who can DO so
ought to take the opportunity oflearn-
ing for himself what can be done in
the making of roads with necessary
machinery handled by men who are
experts in the business.
So much has been said and written
in regard to this subject of good roads
that the people of the South are prac'
tically in thorough accord with the
idea that good roads are an acquisition
and benefit to any community. Every
one is convinced that the lack of good
roads ia one of the greatest drawbacks
to the growth and prosperity of the
South, and to supply this lack is one
of the most serious problems before US
to-day. A network of main roads
built under scientific direction with
durable and permanent material will
alone meet the urgent demand or our
rural districts and market towns. The
lines of competition are being drawn
more closely every year and the mar
gin of profits are growing more slender
in consequence, so that il is imperative
to emyloy every element looking to
low-priced production and cheap dis
tribution of the crops that are grown
on the farms, and which are to be con-
sumed by the non-producers. The en-
tire population of any section is inter-
ested in whatever may contribute 10
this result, and it is clearly demon
strated that good roads are a prime
factor in the development Of the coun-
try, while providing the greatest econ
omy in bringing the producer and con-
suner together, 80 that both classes
will profit by easy and cheap trans
portation over our public roads.
How can we secure better roads IN
the South This is the question to De
discussed by practical men in the GOOD
Roads convention which will be held
in this city while the road-making is
being demonstrated on the roads and
streets. Organized and practical lines
must be laid down to secure the results
aimed at, and it is necessary that
every citizen shall give his moral and
financial support to measures when
are Intended for the benefit of all.
Good roads mean a direct benefit to
every farmer, as there is no plan that
will do more to enhance the value OF
lands and develop rural communities
than permanent and well-constructed
highways. Nothing can be found to
contribute more to the co:tentment
and happiness ola farming population
and whatever conduces to this state OF
affairs on the farm confers lasting ben
etits upon towns and cities, for the
prosperity and advancement of the
farmers are quickly reflected in the
growth and wealth-producing charac-
ter of their neighbors.
While there is great unanimity upon
the advantages of good roads, there is
in reality very little practical knowl-
edge as to the means and appliances
for securing this desirable result, and
hence the proposed convention ought
to attract men from every walk of life,
especially those who are engaged in