Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1901-05-18

ecl lous dutenUlOn OF the people OF luc
State to the necessity for good roads.
We are soon to have an object lesson in
the construction Of durable and perma-
nent highways, and no thoughtful citi-
zen can fail TO see that the National
Good Roads Association is pointing us
in the right direction. Mississippi is
pre-eminently an agricultural State,
and though truism it is none the less
true that agriculture is dependent as
much almost upon good roads as upon
good soil, for the products of the soil
are valuable just in proportion as they
are marketable, and no town or city
may properly be denoninated market
which does not meet the fundamental
condition of accessibility.
The conversion of the rights Of way
from mud dust and discomfort into
smooth, hard highways, passable at
every season with full loads, with com
fort to man and humanity to beast, is a
subject which concerns alike the equip
age of the millionaire, the teams of the
farmer, the cart Of the laborer, and the
feet of the wayfaring man.
1t is the opinion of well-informed peo-
pie who have made practical study of
economic problems, that superb roads
have been and are among the most
steady and potent contributions to the
material development and marvellous
financial elasticity of any country.
Good roads pay dircctiy by increasing
the value of land, in reducing the mum
Der of draught animals necessary, in
saving wear and tear to man, beast and
vehicle; in measurably shortening time
aud space and in erasing from the cal
endar the days which are now spent in
idleness on account of bad weather and
consequently impossible roads. Mar
kets would be always accessible and
perishable goods, which are now often a
total loss to the producer, could at all
times be realized on.
Good roads pay indirectly in promot-
ing the social, educational and religious
interests of the country communities
Easy access to town, church and school
would relieve the life of the farmer of
most of its limitations, and people
would be content to live in the country
because they could get to the city or
town with ease and comfort. Frequent
intercourse with the cities and towns
would serve to dispel, in measure, the
illusion which in the minds of the many
rural folk hangs over urban life and
constrains them to quit the farm, thus
robbing the State Of her yeomany, Il
source upon which the body polite
always has drawn, and always will, for
new life, health and strength. But
there is little need to maintain thesis
so self-evident. That something must
be done to improve the roadways of
Mississippi is fact which no man in
this day would be rash enough todeny.
| therefore cordially invite and ur-
gently call upon as many patriotic Mis-
sissippians as possible to attend Good
Roads Convention to be held in the city
of jackson on the 14th and 18th days OF
June, 1901, for the purpose of perfect
ing permanent good roads organiza-
ton in the State looking to the adop-
ton of a uniform system. for the i'm
provement of the highways of travel,
by the use of modern, scientific and up
to-date appliances, material and meth
DDS.
In furtherance OF this scheme dc
most urgently request the boards of su-
pervisors of the various counties to at
tend the said convention, and the presi-
dents thereof to appoint one or more
additional delegates from each super
yisors district to attend the said con
ventiOn,
| further request all municipal au-
thorities, commercial and industrial or
ganizations in the State to appoint dele
gates and urge their attendance.
A liberal reduction of railroad and
hotel rates will be given all who attend.
Newspapers favorable to the move
ment will please copy. Respectfully,
A. II. LONGING, Governor.
As a result of the recent convention
in Natchez, permanent organization
was effected under the title Of the
Southwest Mississippi Good Roads
Association" with Ernest Brown presi-
dent, and vice-presidents lone for each
county, as follows: Adams, K, Lee
Parker; Wilkinson, Capt. Robert Me.
Gehee; Jefferson, l. d, Stewart; Frank
| lin, L. S. PROXY Sheriff.; Claiborne.
Capt. C. S. Kennard. The delegates to
the State convention to be held in Jack
son June l4th and 18th, are w, G. Ben.
brook, John A. Redhead, L. L. Parker,
G. S, Kennard and w. II. Ratclitfe.
The "object lesson" presented by the
Illinois Central Good Roads party was
a great success, and the mile of road
between Longwood and the grave of
S. $. Prentiss is pronounced by Mr..
Morenus who has built roads in Russia,
China and South Africa, to be the finest
niece of road he ever made. Prof,
Holmes, of North Carolina University,
is about to experiment with oil, as a
,aver of the dust in Natchez. The re
sult is awaited with great interest.
Mississippi is about to lose from the
front rank of her grand women and
splendid educators, Miss Jennie, Dyer
whose name stands. to all who know IT,
for everything that is high and beauti
ful and helpful to humanity. Miss
nvsr has done noble work-work that
will live, not only in our own State,
its schools and its normals-but u
Memphis,- where she delivered q re
,.rlable series of lectures before the
Century Club, and instructed that great
citv,s teachers in nature studies. Texas
will gain this potent factor in all good
things whereof she has knowledge, and
Mississippi will feel for many years tt
come the loss Of so strong force az
Nice Over has proven herself. May all
nnod things attend her, and healthlan
strength await heri far-off Texas
At the recentlI, {, ". State conven
tion in Meridian, b. V. White o.