The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-02-22
A QUESTION ANSWERED.
Referring to the need for good ROADS
The Richmond Dispatch says:


Referring to the need for good roads
The Richmond Dispatch says:
Do you-do we-want them badly enough
to be willing to be taxed to pay for
them? If SO, then the problem Is solved
The Israelites couldn't make bricks with
out straw. Neither can We make roads
without money.
Speaking for Alabama we believe we
can safely answer the question affirma-
lively The experiment has been tried
in some counties; and though there may
have been some complaint at first on
account of increased taxation the adj
vantages of the better highways have
been so palpable that the people are not
only convinced but satisfied. When
farmer sees team carrying load at
the worst season of the year which the
same team could have carried only under
the most favorable conditions and at the
most favorable season under the old
order of things he is not likely to be-
grudge the small increase of taxes which
he has had to pay to secure such ad-
vantages. 80
The farmers of Alabama like all rural
people, are conservative and slow to
change and shake Off their old habits.
but when a real good Is placed before
them they will take advantage of 1t.
Speaking only of our immediate surround
ings, some of the roads in Montgomery
County, passing through portions of the
most typical mud of the prairie region
Of Alabama. have been so vastly improv-
ed that bringing cotton and other farm
produce to the city now is no longer
task to be dreaded. What used to be
one Of the most vexatious and expensive
features of the planters life Is now a
pleasure, and instead Of hauling two or
three bales of cotton through bound
less ocean of sticky mud the same team
will bring three or four times as many
bales with ease and in half the time.
To make these roads cost money. 1t is
true and part of the cost fell on the
farmers in the way Of increased taxa
ton, but we have not heard that they
regret the money spent for this purpose.
And the reports we get from the few
other counties which have tried the ex-
pertinent are equally favorable. The
people are beginning to understand that
they cannot make bricks without straw
and those who have seen the advantages
to be derived are willing to supply the
straw. Teaching by example Is one Of
the surest methods Of imparting infor-
nation, and If the experiment has not
already been tried in Virginia let some
town or county build one or more good
roads where they are most badly needed.
so that the people can see for them
selves that money spent for good and per-
manent highways is good investment.
~s--
The Memphis Commercial Appeal OF last
Wednesday contains a lengthy and ex-
haustive comparison of the cost of school
books used in the country schools and
the city schools. The article shows how
much the patrons in the country nave 10
nav for all the books used In their
schools. and also what city patrons pay,
taking I'D quite number of counties for
the purpose of comparison, The article
is too long to copy entire. and we will
only take up the cost of the reading
hooks. of which The Appeal says. using
black capitals to emphasize the point:
From the first grade to the end of
the high school the city uses regular
readers which cost $2.S5 and one sup
Elementary reader costing 80 cents. max
ing a total of $3.15 The county uses
regular readers costing N.55 and no less
than twenty-five supplementary readers
costing 1915. o.!
The Appeal goes through all the
branches taught in the city and county
schools and the average difference is
about as great as is shown in the cost
of readers If it is correct In all its
COMPARISONS the country people are en-
titled to a healthy kick. to say the least
Billie Vest the negro minstrel, died
recently of cancer of the mouth. said to
have been caused by excessive smoking
and one of our exchanges is mean enough
to intimate that his disease resulted from
his having quit cheroots, at three for FIVE
and taken to the finest cigars he could
find, after he got rich. Here's a lesson
for some of the rest Of us. Wen stick
to threes.
A Home for the Veterans.
Clanton Banner.
The munifcent offer of Colonel ]. NJ
Falkner to donate the land for a home
for INDECENT Confederate Veterans of Ala
bama will be highly appreciat by the
people of the State. Such a home has
long been desired, but the expense was
great and there was apparently no way
of raising the necessary funds BY the
generosity of Colonel Falkner q large
part of the difficulty is already over
come. and there can be no doubt but that