The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-02-10

HsA Gu farmers Of the State who
have vast crops to move who are
most insistent upon the imperative
need Of good roads and who are pledg.
ing the payment of vast sums fron
their local treasures if the necessary
State aid will bring about the better.
ment of New York's public highways
The would-be driver for pleasure who
bumps along country roads that rival
that traditional rocky route to Dublin
swears between jolts that it is shame
that the Empire States thoroughfares
are not decent places Of travel. but
the farmers are the men of all Others
interested in the proposed great
scheme Of public improvement.
They use the roads more than any
one else in their daily work and haul:
ing crops EN- route to market, and
though they were at first opposed 70
the State "good roads" appropriation
and the additional county subscription
to it that meant increased taxes to
every one of them, tSey are to-day the
most earnest advocates Of the meas
ure to be presented at this session OF
the Legislature. And their attitude
is that of wisdom, for no money ap.
propriated by the State brings more
lasting benefit to the community al
large than the sums given for the
building Of good roads.
/, In every locality where the better
ment of the highways has ben ef
fected by general and local taxation
the voting of tile necessary county
subscription in order to gain State aid
was first effected only after lle most
vigorous objection on the part of the
farmer, who say only larger take; to
pay in consequence. But the universal
result of the better roads has been to
transform the objectors into enthusias'
tic indorsers Of the movement. Every
county and township in this and otheI
States that has expc- ded money fol
the improvement has found that il
has enriched the neighborhood vastly
Not only has it increased the carrying
capacity of the vehicles, lessened tae
cost of travel and diminished wear anC
tear, but it has tended to build up 9
county by making it more attractive
in every way and drawing to it well.
to-do people who are source OF rev.
enue to the various localities.
The Legislature of this State in 1903
passed favorabiy pom the proposed
submission to the people of a consti.
tutional amendment enabling the issue
Of bonds to the amount of S50,000,0 600
for the building Of good roads. half OF
the sum to be donated by the State
and the other half loaned to the coun-
ties agreeing 20 meet half the local
cost. This must be passed upon again
in 1905 before it can SO before the peo.
pie for consideration, so 1t will be l90d
before such aid can be given the va
rious counties. Meanwhile there is
universal demand for immediate' relief,
and from all Iarts Of the State the
legislators are urged to appropriate at
this and the following session at least
100000 annually for highway work.
on the plan of the counties meeting
half the necessary expenditure. "'
There should be no opposition to this
proposed measure, for it is the wish of
the whole State, and as half the bur-
den will fall upon the counties cor-
cerned, while the public at large will
share the benefits. the bill should 60
through with accla nation as a meas
ure that will do the greatest good to
the greatest number. York Her
aid