Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1905-03-24
JUDGE SCOTS ADDRESS
Delivered Before the Good Roads
Convention.

IQuires some time and attention &c
bring 1t into full and and perfect de.
velopment. We are ever striving tc
develop the individual physically,
mentally aud morally beginning with
the small babe and continuing through
life. We must develop our resources
that are around and about us before
they are fit for mans use, therefore
l wish to spend little time in talk
ing about good wagon roads as devel-
opers. No one will deny that railroads
in this day and age are Indispensable
in the best development of any coun-
try.
The question of transportation by
water and rail have, in the past, re-
ceivod good deal of attention by our
whole people. 1t is not of supreme
Importance how much we can
produce, as it is how cheaply
we can market our products.
However, better public roads are not
only necessary from a commercial
point of view, but they are a neces-
sity from educational and social
points Of view as well. We shall not
be able to develop our country faster
than we develop the individual. The
ability to develop any country might
largely be measured by that degree of
intelligence and moral standing that
is found among its people who reside
| therein.
There is great effort being
made throughout this country to raise
the standard of citizenship Of the in
dividual. The greatest good can not
come from our efforts towards individ.
ual development unless we have free
access to mingle one with the other.
1t is human nature to be sociable and
to desire the companionship of one's
fellows Deprived of this pleasure,
as many are who live in the rural dis
tricts, they become dissatisfied with
country life and move to the towns and
cities. Is it to be wondered that so
many boys and girls leave their country
homes and go to the city as soon as
they become old enough to break away
from their family ties?
There has been an unhealthy flow of
our boys and girls from the farm TO
the cities with the desire to better
their condition in educationa !, social
and financial ways. Many of them do
not do as well financially as they could
have done had they stayed upon the
farm, and they have in many instances
fallen by the wayside, not being able
to Withstand the increased temptations
and vice that are found in our cities
over that to be found in country dis
tricts.
Our bad roads prevent the women
and our young people from driving out
and mingling together as they should
in order to develop the social side of
their natures, that is 20 essential in
forming the most useful and we'll
rounded life: If the women who lives
in the country were to wait for their
husbands to take them calling, their
calls would be few and far between.
The long winter evenings should be
the most pleasant time of the year up
on the farm it should be the time for
social and metal improvement. Liter
airy aud social gatherings should be
had, adding both pleasure and i'm
proyement, that would do much TO
make our young people content with
country life, Our bad roads prevent,
to a large degree, this being done If
the people in the rural districts were
to have an opportunity of mingliug
together frequently, contentment and
prosperity would come TO many farm
home that is now ruined by discord
and poverty. Our young people who
live in the country, must have better
social relations in order to prevent
this unhealthy flow of our best boys
and girls from the farm TO the city.
We should got away from the errone-
Gus idea that anybody can farm. The
time is coming when our large farms
will be cut mp and a family supported
from the products Of small farm.
This cannot be done in the haphazard
way that is now in vogue among many
of our farmers of today; but will
have to be done upon scientific prin-
ciples that are now followed by some
of our farmers. For this reason, we
need to retain upon the farm many Of
our best boys and girls that now 60
to the cities, seeking other employ
ment Our agricultural colleges are
doing much to develop our country
and it, resources they teach the young
meD aud women how to work and how
to get the best results from their
efforts and capital expended in a soisn.
tiic way
The yOung man or young woman
who gets the impression that it is a
disgrace 70 work, or that he or she Il
too nice 10 do farm work, is IN
danger of going wrong Such an i'm.
preston should be met with discour.
agement whenever possible.
1t has been wisely said that the
schoolmaster and good roads are the
two most essential features Of oiyiliza.
tioD. We should install in the mind.
Of cur young people that each Of az
has duty to perform that We owe q
duty to ourselves and to each other, in
that we should always endeavor to de-