The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-06-05
NEED OF GOOD ROADS.
How Country Life is ercntiy In,prov-
ed by Them.

In recent meeting called for the
purpose Of promoting public interest
in public roads the Hon. w. j. Bryan,
OF Nebraska, said:
1t is important for the welfare Of
our government and for the improve
mcnt Of our civilization that we make
life upon the farm rs attractive as
possible.
Notwithstanding the introduction
Of free letter delivery, the telephone,
gas manufacturing plants and The
extension Of electric car lines, there
still remains Il pressing need for bet
tier country roads, Il need emphasized
and made more apparent by the pave
mcnt of city streets. rs long us mud
placed IN embargo upon city trailic.
the farmer could bear his mud made
isolation with less complaint, but
with the improvement Of city streets
and with the establishment Of parks
and boucvaruS, tile farmers Just de-
mandS for better roads finds incrcaS-
ing expression. The people now realize
that. bad roads arc indcfcl,siblc and
are prepared To consider the remedy.
Home and Farm repeats and CON
mendS The words o! MIR. Bryan with
great SatiSfaction We take pride in
the reflection That in the very begin
ming OF the mOvcmet i,,r free rural
delivery Home ard Farm stood for
equal privileges for farmers and
merchants. There was no reason why
men living within Is minutes walk
OF the city postoilicc should have their
mail delivered to their doors four
times Il day wiliic farmers living five
and ten miles from the pOStnllicc had
| to 90 after the mail themselves.
But the free rural delivery is only
one in Il series of things needed TO
| make the farm more attractive. We
all recognize the fact that there has
been Il drawing OIL Of young people
from our agricultural pursuits to our
great cities. 1t is one OF the tcndcn-
cicS Of the times that we should do
What we can to counterfeit. The chief
method Of cOuntcracting it is to make
the farm life attractive in all its as
poets. 1t is now attractive for its
hcalthfulncSS, its freedom from excite
mcnt, its quiet and serene beauty 1t
is unattraclivc in that it is isolated
that there is little social intercourse
or social pleasure, and in the distance
from school and from church privi-
lcgcs. There are great changes going
on in life in America. The extension
Of the electric car lines through the
rural districts will undoubtedly do
much to draw people from the towns
to the immediate vicinity of the
towns, and gradually bring the more
remote districts into direct conncc-
tion with certain part Of town life.
But the farmer needs to consider
especially the value OF good roads.
This would make life more attractive
on the farm, but primarily it is a
measure for making farming more
profitable through all years, good and
bad. 1t is not possible 10 estimate
the cost bad roads entail upon The
farmers Of America. We have greatly
reduced the cost Of transporting farm
products from Il railroad depot to the
great markets OF the world, hut il
costs about us much now rs IL ever
did To get the farm crops from tile
fields TO the railroad station. The
thing for the farmers 60 do is to re-
ducc this cost by acting together and
securing better roads all the ycat
round