Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-04-19
THE CONNECTING LINK
Good Roads a Necessity to the
Farmer as Well as the Bust.
ness Man in the City.

What would be the effect on Crane
Rapids if running. out from this city
were several excellent thoroughfareS
Preaching out to all parts of the county:
Would it not form connecting link
and closer relationship between the
farmer and business men Of our city.
The question of dependence is by nc
means a one-Sided question. The
city needs the farmers because they
are buyers of nearly all kinds of
manufactured products to till the
/ soil and reap the harvest with.
because the people of this city can
buy their necessities of farm product
fresh from the farm and at a lower
value than if they had to be shipped
here from other localities, because
their products marketed here add to
the industrial sphere of the city, such
as flour mills, elevators, etc, thus
giving wealth to the city and exchange
its product. 1t is therefore just as
essential for the merchant. manu-
facturer and business people of Grand
Rapids to cooperate with the farmers
and assist them in developing their
ideas, to produce better products
such as the market requires, assist
them in procuring good road move
ment, invite them to the city to hold
their meetings and institutes, hold
special meetings for the purpose of
getting the farmers and business
people together, to produce argument
and new ideas as to what is the best
method to pursue in this surrounding
country for farmers, also the best
business methods for the people of the
city to adapt in securing factories
that would be Of great value to the
farmers and to the city.
There is nothing that helps to build
up country so much as public high
ways, roads that can be used through
out the entire year. And if this is
true, there is no public improvement
where money can be spent to better
advantage. The highways are the
natural feeders to railways and
improvements on them materially
increase both interstate and
international commerce. If our
government has seen fit to be liberal in
river and harbor work it is reasonable
to expect that the building and
maintenance of public highways
should receive the same attention.
Wood and adjoining counties should
unite and adopt some effective plan
so that under skilled supervision the
public highways could be put into a
condition that would insure their
being passable for traffic throughout
the entire year.
It can be fairly said that after the
agitation of the past ten years the
people OF Garnd Rapids and Wood
County are thoroughly awake to the
Importance of good roads and that all
we need to secure the desired end is a
united effort.
The United States Congress should
make liberal appropriations to be
expended in different regions of the
country where the inhabitants are
willing to pay part OF the expense
and where the work can be carried on
under skilled supervision, SO that
every section of highway properly
constructed would serve as an example
and an inspiration for fine road
building.
Let us get together and talk it over
and thereby figure out the best
method for placing all business on its
highest standard according to the
conditions that now exist.