The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-09-24

A-l That the DeHeHtS are w
E9f lgilI tirely local. a&d that the
whole expense should he
borne by the local communities. Tins
is not the view taken in the NEST
progressive countries Of Europe. There
the building and maintenance OF roads
is one of the important functions OF
government. France, Germany and
Switzerland are covered by netwcrH
of the finest roads in the world. AS
result the western half OF Europe IS
the pleasure ground Of the world. Tile
revenue derived from tourists Is one
of the principal sources Of income for
people of nearly all classes. But With
out these good roads, this revenue
could never be secured.
The aim Of the people in those coua'
tries is to make their grand mouD-
tains, their beautiful lakes, their lively
valleys. their castles and monuments
easily accessible by means of fine,
hard, smooth roads.
What q contrast appears when We
turn to our own country. We have
the finest scenery in the world in the
great mountains of the West, but it
is practically inaccessible. Except as
they get Glimpses of it from car Win
dows, the grandeur OF our mountains
and canyons, and the beauty or our
mountain lakes, streams ard valleys
are a sealed book to the general trav-
cling public. And this will always he
| the case so long rs steep stony moIE-
tain trails are the only means OF
travel beyond the railway lines. III
| deed, much OF our finest scenery can
not be reached even by such trails.
II the United States Government. III
| co-operation with the States and local
communities would build great smooth
highways. making the wonders anu
| beauties Of our great West easily ac-
cessible to tourists, in few years the
| tide of travel would be turned wes-
| ward. Not Only would millions OF
dollars spent annually by Americans
in Europe be kept at home. but other
millions would be brought to our
4 SNbTpS Dy lOuI 1913 lIOlh io' S'siA i>''''
| But the natural attractions OF our
/ country are not the only things which
4 are made inaccessible by the lack OF
good roads. Our places of historic
Interest are mostly in the same cate
CORY. Take, for, instance, Monticello
home and tomb Of the immortal JET
1 ferson. Few Americans even know
l where It Is, much less visit 1t. Month
cello Is only three miles from the city
of Charlottesville. Va which IS OH
two great trunk lines Why. then. Is
It so little known? Because three
miles OF about as bad road rs can he
imagined lie between 1t and the rail-
way station. One cannot travel over
that narrow, steep. rough, muddy
country road without feeling OF
shame At present an effort Is being
made by q small band OF patriotic men
! and women to build what is known
as the Jefferson Memorial Road to
make Monticello accessible to the pub
lie. but only a beginning has b"on
made, and they are finding it uphill
work to raise fluids to complete the
| task
But after all the encouragement or
| travel IS not the most important rea-
son for building OF good roads. They
are absolutely necessary for the pros
nerity and happiness OF the people.
The era Of railroad building on large
scale Is practically Mt an end. In the
| course OF commercial and industrial
| development we slave reached n point
where the great problem of improving
! the common roads must DC faced. We
| can no longer treat 1t as a local Ques-
ton. We have tried that for three
| quarters OF a century, and in nearly
every section o. the country the mis-
cradle results are apparent. The good
roads problem will never he solved
| Locally. It is too vast 1t can he
solved Only by the genius the wealth.
the labor and tire patriotism OF the
wnols people. A great national move
ment is necessary. In cooperation Of
the nation. the States. the counties and
the local communities lies the solution
| Of the problem.