The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-06
Sworn Average Daily Circulation
for the Month Of July, 1902:
$3.50 [ J
Record of advertising of
Minneapolis papers for
July, 1902. .:- .%> COILS:
Journal, Il issues 944
Tribune, 81 issues =. 9ll
Times, 81 issues =. I'll
A GOOD ROADS Boom

The state fair will add greatly to its
usefulness and attractiveness this year by
reason of the special attention to be
given to the good roads movement. The
government good roads making and dem
onstrating expedition will put in the week
building a good road fve-eighths OF
mile long, the same to be OF three dlner-
ent types, in order to demonstrate that
the method is fully as important as the
material In building roads.
To supplement the practical work, the
Good Roads convention will be in session
at the fair grounds Monday, Tuesday and
Wednesday of fair week. Farmers will
thus have a chance to get some general
ideas about road building from experts In
that work, and at the same time see the
theories carried into practice.
With such a start the good roads train
will be we'll advertised for it's trip across
the continent from Minneapolis to Sc
attic.
No economic movement Of recent years
In the United States has been more i'm
portant than this good roads movement.
cheap railway service, and so we'll aware
of the Importance of cheap transport on
railways and lakes, have been singularly
blind to the Importance of good roads.
They will fight for a 1-cent reduction and
improved service on railways, but they
will not cheerfully spend dollar to bet
ter the country roads. The reason Of this
contrast may, perhaps, be found in the
fact that the farmer is his own primary
freight mover. He takes his wheat OF
other produce to town in his own wagon
drawn by his own horses. He does moi
value the outlay of his own time an6
the wear and tear to horses and wagons
as he does a money outlay. If wagor
transport was conducted by corporations
as railway transport is, the farmers would
insist good roads, knowing that the
better the road the cheaper, the cost O.
transport, BY insisting on reduced rate:
he would compel the companies to built
better roads. But, now, If he improves
the road, he must pay for it himself, an,
the idea Of paying from 81, 900 to $4,000 A.,
mile for q road Is a formidable one 81
long as it IS only the farmers time an,
equipment that are being wasted, and b
can, somehow manage to get his crop
to market. ~ = @~F-:
In a one-crop country, where the farm
sers have comparatively little to do hal
the year, there is some excuse for thi
attitude. Suppose poor roads do neces
state three trips, to-, the market plac
where one trip would do with good roads
What is time to a farmer who has moth
ing but chores to attend to? But whe
the farmer has something that re
quires activity at all times of the yea
he will appreciate the fact that time
money, and that the waste of that, take
with the injury done by bad roads
wagons and horses, is more formidabl
than the Increased tax necessitated b
the construction of good roads. :
There Is an aesthetic side to the goo
reads movement, too. that is of no littl
Importance. What is drearier, what NOR
depressing than to drive along a countr
road deep with mud amid furrowed by rut
the water standing in pools in: the roa
and where bitches ought to be-? Goo
roads will lead ito the general improve
ment Of the countryside: The farme
who drives to and from town over spa
cious, smooth. well-cared- for road wi
unconsciously come to effect correspond
ing improvements in the management an
operation of the farm. ezx,
We hope, and we have no doubt, ths
this convention and road making den
onstration during fair week, as well 9
the subsequent trip OF the good road
train, will arouse great interest and /
rewarded with a large attendance.