The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-01-28

SlStance on the part Ol tHe
IN legislative and commercial
TX 4l bodies has made such rapid
progress in so short time
as the good roads movement in the
South. While this movement is gen.
eral throughout the country and seems
to be attracting all elements to its sup
port, in the South, where great natural
resources are being developed at an
unprecedented rate. and where facil.
tiles for transportation are a matter
of immediate. pressing concern, largely
made so during the past three years,
this subject Of improved country high.
ways is taking deeper root with the
people than in most other sections.
The commerce of the world comes
primarily from the ground. and as 4
rule the cost of transporting product
is relatively higher in the initial stage
from the field or mine to the railroad,
river or canal-than in any other part
of its journey to the worlds markets.
The most expensive and the most op-
pressive kind of transportation Is
wagon transportation, where it is ac'
complished over bad roads. but this
fact is often lost sight Of by commun.
tiles which address themselves to the
work of correcting alleged inequalities
in the freight rates charged by rail.
road and steamboat companies.
A village in the West. which had its
own peculiar grievance touching
freight rates. was so situated that all
the incoming freight delivered by the
local railroad had to be hauled up a
steep hill in wagons. on which only
half an ordinary load could be drawn
This condition was complacently sub
mitted to for a number Of years. when
it occurred to somebody to suggest that
the point Of attack might be profitably
shifted from the railroad, or its atti'
tude on the subject Of freight rates, to
this hill
When this suggestion was acted
upon, finally. resulting in the cutting
down of the grade, the reduction il
cost Of local carriage Of one-half. and q
corresponding saving in cost of trans
portation greater than could possibly
have resulted had the railroad granted
all that was asked. the business mer
OF this village realized that they had
been guilty Of an error Of omission in
not having figured, at an earlier day,
the cost Of transportation to and from
the doors Of their stores and ware
houses instead of between stations on
the railroad. and that it is possible foI
a short piece Of neglected wagon road
to be an important adverse factor in
the relations of their community with
distant markets.
The encouragement given to the good
roads movement in the South by the
Southern Railway, beginning in 1901.
when it co-operated with the United
States Agricultural Departmentand the
National Good Roads Association in an
expedition for building object-lesson
roads in the southeastern sections OF
the country, is a consistent part of
the policy which aims at the develop
ment Of its territory.
In recent years SO much has been
ilone to perfect traffic relations between
Southern railway points and all the
great commercial centres. not only OF
this country. but of the world. that it is
simply logical to extend the system OF
economical distribution Of products to
the home Of the farmer, and the way to
accomplish this is through the improve
ment Of the country wagon roads.
One Of the most promising and graft.
flying features Of Southern development
to-day is the activity displayed by COM
mercial bodies in promoting road build
ing in the country, assuming part of the
burdens in many instances. and thus
recognizing what has been so long
largely ignored-the mutual interest
and inter-dependence Of town and coun.
try in one of the most important move
ments of the time.-Home and Farm.