Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-01-19
in his crop, that he might devote to

man and team, Wh1cn WOulQ make nlIIl
$3.50. Take off half for wear and tear
and use Of team and he would have $65
profit. Out Of this he could pay his tax
and have $45 left. Besides, the in
crease Of the value of his land, under
a system of improved roads, would be
at least s. per acre. making a total
Of $500. Take off 800 for the five
years this tax would exist and you
have a gain Of $4oo in that transaction.
More than 0ne-third Of our people
are engaged In agricultural pursuits
and live away from the centers Of pop
ulation. For the most part they live
on their farms at a distance Of from
one to twenty-five miles from the
nearest town or city. Upon this class
of our people depends, in large meas
ure, the bodily comfort Of the whole
country, and the wealth Of the country
is primarily drawn largely from their
labor. They are the producers Of the
food products and many Of the raw
materials upon which the world lives
and grows fat in body and finance. 1t
is a self-evident proposition, then, thai
the advancement Of our agricultural
classes should be the prime concern
of every statesman and patriotic cit
izen. The necessity Of their education
In mind, and in improved methods and
means Of production, and Of their con-
tentment in their avocation cannot be
overestimated.
What can tend more to the accom-
plishment Of these ends than better
system Of our common roads? Good
roads will bring them in closer touch
with the centers Of progress and activ-
ity and aid them in securing the en-
larged ideas and improved machinery
80 necessary in order that they may
keep abreast of the march of. progress
in all other lines. AS they advance so
will the country advance, permanently
and in equal ratio. With the roads In
the present condition millions Of our
Horticultural classes are so cut of from
all the influences Of progress that
they have become isolated, do not keep
up with the developments In other
lines, use the same methods OF busi-
ness that their fathers used, merely
eke out their existence, and neither
participate in nor add their share to
the general wealth and comfort.
But a more serious consideration
still Is the increasing tendency OF the
people to leave the farm and go to
the cities. This results in taking from
the farm the bone and sinew and brains
essential to the successful carrying on
of our agriculture and leaves them In
the hands Of illiterate and thriftless
people. But can anything else be ex-
pected? Are the ambitious young
men and women who have been raised
| on the farm, have lived close to nature
and caught the great principle OF all
progress and development from the
movings Of the universe. and who feel
their hearts and minds yearn for the
Fellowship and learning, the chances
and hopes and ambitions Of the world
from which they are so remote and cut
off, with no seeming nope Of improve
ment-I say, can they be expected to
remain content with their lot, thereby
forfeiting every aspiration that is dear
to them? II we would do away with
this evil, some means must be de-
yised to make farm life attractive and
pleasant and to give to that class Of
our people some Of the benefits and
advantages enjoyed by the other class
es. The solution Of the problem Is the
Improvement Of our roads.
1t may be said that to undertake to
pay one-half of the cost Of improve
ing the roads Of the country will bank
rupt the government. II that be so,
how can the state or people be expect
ed to pay all the cost? But, Mr.. Presi-
dent, the argument has no merit. II
has been estimated by the Office OF
public road inquiries that one billion
dollars would put all the main roads
Of the country in good condition. AS
suming that this Is the nearest esti-
mate that we can make Of the total
cost, the government, under this bill,
would be required to raise 500 million
dollars. It has also been estimated that
It will require at least ten years to ef-
feet the improvement Of the roads.
Does any one think that to raise 500
million dollars during ten years Will
bankrupt the government? But II we
need facts let US take an example:
since the Spanish war the government
of the United States has expended
about 700 million dollars in the Philip
pine Islands q period Of about five
years. Has that bankrupted the gov
ernment? We have also appropriated
In the past ten years ITS million dol
lars for the improvement Of rivers and
harbors. Notwithstanding these and
many other millions Of expenditures,
we have a surplus Of 266 millions In
the treasury.
If it be granted that the appropria-
ton asked for in this bill would prove
a good investment, the argument that
1t will inaugurate a policy which Will
bankrupt the government Is absolutely
without force. That argument, Mr..
President, is made whenever any prop
osition comes up that involves large
expenditures. It was made when the
idea Of delivering the mail to the
country people was before congress.
The Record was full Of dire predic-
tions of disaster. It was said that the
government could never stand the ex-
expenditure that would be necessary
but the idea prevailed and the cutting
off of the expense Of the old country