The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-06-03
NEED OF GOOD READS.
How Country Life is greatly improv-
ed by Them.

Ina recent meeting called for the
purpose of promoting public interest
in public roads the Hon. W. J. Bryan,
oi Nebraska, said:
1t is important for the welfare OF
our government and for the improve
ment CT our civilization that we make
life upon the farm as attractive as
possible.
Notwithstanding the introduction
of free letter delivery, the telephone,
gas manufacturing plants aud the
extension OF electric car lines, there
still remains (, pressing need for bet
tier country roads, need emphasized
and made more apparent by the pave
ment Of city streets. AS long rs mud
placed an embargo upon city traffic,
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 bou!evaraS, the farmers just Ge-
mands for better roads finds increas-
ing expression. The people now realize
that bad roads are indefen>ible and
are prepared to consider the remedy.
Home and Farm repeats and com-
mendS the words OF NJ. Bryan with
great satisfaction. We take piide in
the reflection that in the very begin
Ming of the movemet f2r free rural
delivery Hone and Farm stood fer
equal privileges for farmers ard
merchants. There was 60 reason why
men living within Is minutes walk
of the city postotlice should have their
mail delivered to their doors four
times I; day while farmers living five
and ten miles from the pOstOttice haG
to go after the mail themselves.
But the free rural delivery is only
one in a series of things needed 70
make the farm more attractive. We
all recognize the fact that there has
been drawing off Of young people
from our agricultural pursuits to our
great cities. 1t is one Of the tenden-
cies of the times that we should do
what we can to counteract. The cblet
method Of counteracting it is TO make
the farm life attractive in all it's as
poets. 1t is now attractive for its
healthfulneSS, its freedom from excite
nent, it's quiet and serene beauty. 1t
is unattractire in that it is isolated,
that there is little social intercourse
or social pleasure, and in the distance
/ from school and from church privl-
leges. 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 connec-
tion with a 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 1t IS a
measure for making farming more
profitable through all years, gocd and
bad. 1t is not possible to estimate
the cost bad roads entail upon the
farmers of America. We have greatly
reduced the cost Of Transporting farm
products from a railroad depot to the
great markets Of the world, but It
costs about as much now as it ever
did 70 get the farm crops from the
fields to the railroad station. The
thing for the farmers TO do is to re-
duce this cost by acting together and
securing better roads al the veal
round.