Mexico weekly ledger., 1904-08-18
100
r. M. BRAsHEARs.
An Audrain Man Writes at Length
About Good Roads.
Prom colman.s Rural word.

@ASSAe ~t~t~~ @sNt%t<os
From Colrnans Rural World.
Editor Rural World: Some time ago
we read in the Kansas City "Star'' a
report OF d. Ward Kings method Of
maintaining good dirt roads. While
1T may have appeared insignificant to
the eyes OF our journalists because
very little has been said along this
line), 1t presented quite different
phase to the eye OF the practical far.
mer, because / baye heard some OF
them express themselves. We say
practical farmer, because the practical
road builder is our part OF the moral
heritage.
Some one remarked not long since
that good roads seldom got beyond the
walls Of our good roads convention
halls. So far as benefits derived by
the farmer class is concerned, this il
practically true. The good roads
question has been discussed pro and
con by men who have really studied
the good roads question. but there has
never been anything offered that is SC
simple and SO effective and so general
ly beneficial as the drag.
There is no question about it; we
must have better public highways. A
State which prides herself las does
Missouri) on her varied industries and
which is to-day making herself name
that is to be heralded with glad
acclaim from the four quarters OF the
globe, demands system Of better
road laws. Not only is Missouri's good
name making these demands, but her
citizens, people who live among these
highways, are waiting and looking for,
ward with happy anticipation to the
time when they viii be permitted e,
to work under the law and make bet
ter roads. 1t is fact, where roads
are worked by district overseers, that
too frequently the work is left not
completed. This is almost alway due
to the fact that there are not enough
taxable heads in that particular
locality. And again 1t is too frequent
ly the case that men will not give SC
much as a half days work gratis. In
this latter case the work Of complet-
ing the job falls on the individual OF
individuals whose pride is equal to his
energy, and whose energy is not with
held In times OF need.
There Is no doubt that the high
grade is the only alternative for oul
prairie roads, and we believe with the
high grade and eternal vigilence the
good roads question will be, in a great
measure, solved. Three minutes with
a spade or shovel In the hands of q
willing worker viii often prevent a
ditch being washed in the middle OF
the road. This comes under the head
Of eternal vigilance, and may be ex.
ecuted by either the man whose farm
is in close proximity with said road OF
by one of the commissioners or the
ovelseer, wneSe oinic ID W pc mnoiiy
given up to caring for the roads in bill
prescribed territory.
"eafe svficviy IN iasor y, TUX "
gravei roaus NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., anu vn'
practicaoiiiey' 10 a greatel OK less eA
tene'uepenus upon Une iooaiivy .niousl
wnicn q foau runs u siasc' 70 cioSs
oy ene coso o.s spreading ~ on Uiie roau
oeu 10 iot ~ sleaV as one misuV sup
pose' Due stasei ioais aie nv. "na'
.ne piai'ie isiine, auV'oipasee' ~. q
onis .lile anu unue, pi1ssn1. .onui'io,,
ms ionuesv nopes a,ohs .nis iine 0ou'o
nou oe reail1eu. we niay nave soo'
roaus cohSenViohs anu uiscuss pau
anu piinoipies uh.ii uoo'nsoay,ou. uu
,ess some pan y ueclueu aapo upoh anu pu'
l'i.o eseous,on 0no year soOo "'i ~,
arouhu anu nhu our sieaV-siea'-sl an.
on'iu,en u'seusains ohe soou 'oau'
question anu puilins onlousn un'
niuu W seV W One'r soou ioaoS 0onf'n
VionS.
our pan - 'n,s' naise oui oui.el.' ! :
nigh anu niaAe Viieln "'uc enoush vna
water w'ii nos Iun osel snu M sasi
.,ielu ous' ieas.ns .ansel ane uso'.u0 ~,
Uiol III siieii s'eau' ~" kiaue lui
up W ouiverts' tnis means eiau'
iroin ewo W iuur iees hisn, eepeuuil'
upon tne locality. IL our graoe ID ihau
noo zoo wiue' WIN "eii-arounu sur
laee'ano 1nen Win clie uras Juu,o'ous
" USED, tne quescion oi eoou oir
roaus VIII DC IN great measui
soiVeu. now are we 70 eeV 'his nisl
gIade: we VIII answer W asAins
w no niaue wnaV We hases inoie WI
oe ieicles on cne noon whei, we se
iunns IN any oener way vnah ny uiiev
taxaeion, as cur present. laws uehhanu ,
our roaos are workeo iargeiy vnious'
a medium OF 1axatich, anu Unls "
mean 10 Just oouoie, WHICH wou'
make pn our COUNTY, 20 per neau y
all eaAaoie neaus' VI . iliai, nae VI
priviiege oi gisine 'eS equ,'aiene y