The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1903-05-01
cooD ROADS AGITATION.
,,+.rest In This Important Question
Necessary.

tha state particularly in the farming
sections is arousing public opinion to
Tho importance and necessity of ak
inc immediate steps for improvement
:, tbe highways. The widespread eX-
tant of the good roads agitation is
coon from the earnestness with which
same sister states are graphing with
+ha GucstiOn-a national convention
Of 81 Louis and the state convention
called by the governor of Iowa. Gov.
Earripd in thoroughly imbueu with the
inheritance of taking some action 10
this state. In his message to the legis-
| lature he SAID:
Charles sumner once said: The
! road and schoolmaster are the two
| mos important agents in advancing
civilizali0n." In a message to con-
| eress President Mckinley urged tho
inportance Of good roads, saying:
"Tbere is a widespread interest in the
| Improvement of our public highways
at the present time and the depart
uant of agriculture is cooperating
with the people in each locality IN
making the best possible roads" Peo-
nile in each locality in making the best
possible roads" People generally are
heginuing to realize that good roads
not only have a positive money value
to the farmers and to the towns peo-
ME. but a social and moral value by
virtue OF the convenience, comfort and
refining influences which good roads
djfuse throughout the rural regions.
Goods roads, like good streets, make
h,bitations along them desirable.
Good roads economize time and force
in transportation Of products. Good
roads reduce the wear and tear Oh
horses and wagons. A farm twenty
miles from town, on a good road, is
for all practical purposes no farther
from market than another farm ten
miles distant on a poor road. Good
roads raise the value Of farm lands
and the products of the farm. 1t ha
been carefully estimated that SO per
cent of the tonnage handled by railroad
steamboat or express must be carried
In a wagon over a highway 1t is evil
dent that the problem of good roads
while of primary Importance to the
farmer is one of tremendous import
ance to the general public. This fact
has been recently recognized by more
than half a dozen states where crude
laws and a~ntiquated systems of high
way improvement have been sup
planted with highway commissioners
having competent jurisdictions and
exercising intelligent supervision over
Foad affairs.
The Importance of this subject has
been emphasized by the establishment
bf rural free mail delivery "a service
which President Roosevelt says "tS
DO longer in the experimental stage;
I has become a fixed policy" ITS IS
Justified" says the president, both by
he financial results and by the prac-
heal benefits to u rural population;
I brings the men who live on the soil
no closer relations with the active
business world; it keeps the farmer in
aily touch with the markets; 1t is a
F~otential educational force; it en-
ances the value of farm property,
lakes farm life far pleasanter and less
Eolated and will do much to check the
Measurable current from country to
NY" The daily newspaper with the
larket reports is no longer a stranger
the home Of the farmer favored
nth free mail delivery. But these
podern advantages can only be OBJ
lined through a system of good roads.
is an established rule of the post
NICE department that the establish
ent OF good roads is a "prerequlslte
the establishment of rural free de-
very service" The great obstacle in
70 way of free rural mail routes is the
Dsence OF roads over which carriers
n cover sufficient territory in a given
me with regularity at all seasons of
e year.
10 this as well as in nearly every
Fner respect, our state Is as fortu-
! H'ey situated as perhaps any other
que IN the union. Here good roads
y Oe made at a small expense. What
need is u%p-to-date methods. In
as connection l would recommend
L = abolition Of the primeval custom
i working OUT the poll and road tax.
Wy custom originated at a time when
oney was scarce and the scattered
oneers were desperately in need VI
ue KIND Of a trail through the will
'aess. The we'll known farce of
arAlng out the road taxes has been
~ expressed by Sam Walter Foss in
lecollections of his boyhood on the
). "nen We Work Our Tax Out.
- VI. life was tough and fearful, and
ri INA rs o Toll was often fearful.
BY ,"teh we grew faint beneath the
.sl I sWe. came q glad vacation. and a
tMa . We used to work our tax out on
p9 We used to work our tax out, then
na ind W Ieit the joys of leisure, |
HI ,a ~ lelt no more the prick of
mu shared the golden treasure OF
Nhon n"eet rest In fullest measure,
IN" used to work our tax out on
d , "e used to work our tax out Qf I
Ne b.a 'he bottom facts OUT.
ra renns sonnnoient contentment and
Fa ,s no ros toll or work to cumber us. our
w md In mds sweet n slumberous,
0 Dp doze. = Neicous dreaming ola we
m",shess of languid rest DER every
md IN a was creeping.
~ calm serene contentment va all
feless os gown our load;
lay hiooul NE wall and weeninp. avery |
4 tp Then uo man was sleeping,
AMI the roassso to work our tax out on