The Port Gibson reveille., 1904-03-24

-
Ill ~ legislative and commercial
~ ri bodies has made such rapid
progress in so short d time
IS the good roads movement in the
South. While this movement is gen.
.ral throughout the country and seems
d be attracting all elements to its sup
)ort. in the South, where great natural
resources are being developed at an
unprecedented rate, and where facil-
ties for transportation are a matter
" immediate, pressing concern, largely
made 50 during the past three years.
his 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
.ule the cost OF transporting n product
Is relatively higher in the initial stage
from the field or mine to the railroad.
river or canal-than in any other part
If Its journey 70 the worlds markets.
The most expensive and the most op-
pressive kind Of transportation is
wagon transportation, where 1t Is ac-
eomplished over bad roads. but this
fact Is often lost sight Of by commune
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 n
steep hill in wagons. on which only
half an ordinary load could be drawn.
This condition was c0mplacently sub
mitted to for a number OF years. when
1t occurred to somebody to suggest that
the point Of attack might be proftably
shifted from the railroad, or its atti-
tude OH 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 in
cost Of local carriage of one-half. and a
corresponding saving in cost Of trans.
portation greater than could possibly
have resulted had the railroad granted
all that was asked. the business men
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 for
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
Railway. beginning in 1901.
when 1t co-operated with the United
States Agricultural Departmentand the
National Good Roads Association in an
expedition for building object-less0n
'oads in the southeastern sections OF
lie country. is a consistent part OF
he policy which aims at the develop.
nent Of its territory.
In recent years SO much has been
lone to perfect traffic relations between
Southern railway points and all the
yreat commercial centres. not only Of
his country. but Of the world. that it is
simply logical to extend the system Of
economical distribution Of products to
he home of the farmer, and the way to
accomplish this is through the improve.
nent OF the country wagon roads.
One Of the most promising and graft.
ying features of Southern development
o-day is the activity displayed by com.
nerclal bodies in promoting road build
lg in the country, assuming part Of the
'urdens in many instances, and thus
what has been SO long
lrgeIy ignored-the mutual interest
nd inter-dependence OF town and coun
~ in one Of the most important move.
lents Of the time.-Home and Farm.