The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1901-12-10

70 reforms. the movement I'm
favot OF good roads ia ok
pericncng nany difficulties.
and its promoters many discourage
mcnts. Like all other such movements
too. it Is to some extent being utilized
! for private gain. and for the adver-
tiSement OF commercial commodities
in one direction or another. All this
and more, however, is necessary evil
I TO the accomplishment of the great
and enduring good which * involved.
This great movement, should con
tlnue 20 receive the active cooperation
and approval OF all progressive minds.
Il has within it the elements OF the
greatest possible social gains to the
people Of the entire country. When
even n measurable degree OF the pos
sibllitles of the movement are realized.
the st. Paul Globe remarks cditOrially,
It will advance with giant strides in
every section of the country until we
have clfaced this stigma OF barbarism
which attaches to us on account of the
condition OF our public roads.
Tie convention Of the National Good
/
suit in directing national attention to
the movement. 1t will enlist the con
CCrted efforts OF the most thoughtful
OF It's advocates. and will go long
way toward securing the final inter
ventlon of the State and local govern
] ments in the elfectuation OF the move
ment
In settled communities in the East
it IL possible for the Western traveller
here and there to see long stretches OF
public roads in the dlstinctively agri-
cultural regions. removed many miles
from centres OF city population, in as
good condition as our city streets.
And it invariably happens that In such
localities as are thus favored the SUI
perior degree OF comfort and prosper
! ity which prevails among the people
, makes Itself ralpably clear.
There can be no doubt that the
spread OF free rural postal delivery
/ Will have an encouraging effect upon
the good roads movement Congress
, should enact such laws as would Oper-
ate to withhold from the localities
whose roads are neglected the prlvi-
leges OF free rural delivery A pre-
/ MUM might thus easily be set by the
3 Federal Government upon the improve
ment of local roads If the advan-
tages and disadvantages involved in
the administration OF local roads
could in some such way be brought
home to the people OF the several To-
caltes which are we'll enough popu-
lated TO entitle them to free postal de
livery, it would not be long until there
was general awakening to tho great
/ Importance OF the movement.
or course the great difficulty which
Will be encountered at the outset is the
, comparatively great expense OF trans
/ forming mud cuts, such as most West
crn country roads are. into decent
thoroughfares. Their maintenance will
be comparatively inexpensive. Their
establishment Will however, be beyond
the immediate resources Of many COM
munities otherwise willing TO make
/ the necessary improvements. As the
States advance moneys to their several
counties. for one or other public use
they should stand ready TO do 80 with
reference to the good roads movement
The good results coming from the es-
/ Enlistment or pnssablc highways
would be promptly repaid
With the holding OF the Buffalo con
vcntlon for good roads it is not un-
reasonable TO believe that the move
ment will have entered upon a new
| and highly encouraging phase.