The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1905-07-29

1fthere IS any one class Of our people deserv.
ing Of special favor ct the hands fthe govern
ment 1t is the agricultural class or strictly
speaking. the farmers. No class Of people has
ever done so much for the United States as the
farming people. The farmers tanned the con-
tinent from wilderness and made our coun-
try the very garden of the world, annually
furnishing about 20 per cent. of our national
exports. In respect Of what they have done
for the Government they need no herald; in
respect Of what they deserve at the hands Of
the Government every patriotic citizen. in
public as well as private life, should be their
advocate.
The farmers of the United States, patient
and determined, have made no demands,
though bearing the heaviest burdens of life
since the Republic was instituted. The time
has come when they must have relief. Under
present highway conditions nearly everywhere
the American farmer practically imprisoned
at home through at least the half of each year.
That half Of the year is the time when he could
be best spared from the farm, and when, with
good roads. be could market his products at a
profit for his toll. Now, however, he must
leave the farm in summer or early falI-the
only time when the roads are passable-to
market his products, and then always on a
congested market, or take the chances on q
hub-deep haul that kills his stock, breaks
wagon and harness, wears out the man and
eats up the fruit of his sweat.
The good roads season for the American
farmer is the very season when his whole time
and attention should be given to his farm
operations; it is the crop season which waits
for no man, and which, neglected, charges il
up to the man behind theplow. Veal know
what that means. With good roads, the farmer
could do his town-going in rain or snow, or
when the ground is too wet to pillow; with bad
roads, as they are now, as they have been from
the beginning and as they will be until the
Government Of the United States extends its
aid as suggested in the Brownlow-L atimer bill,
he must be the great national sufferer.
1t has been calculated by the Department of
Agriculture that every time the sun sets the
bad roads of the United States cost the Ameri-
can farmers 81, $780, 900. These are Government
figures. How any public man can refuse to
support legislation that will stop this dreadful
drain passes the understanding of the average
mind. Can the National Conscience and the
National Thought be unmoved at face with
such condition Are the people themselves
asleep to their own material salvation? How
long can this sapping, sapping, of farm life
and farm vitality go on before the American
farm home is destroyed? And how long, pray
tell, can the Republic stand after the destruction
of the American farm home?
We hope to see the suggested good-roads
legislation go through Congress the coming
winter. 1t will, if the people get together and
demand it. Let neighborhood and county
meetings be held everywhere and petitions go
forward to Senators and Representatives.
Write to your Senator for Senate Document
2O4. Talk to your neighbor about it. Urge
him to write. Let us all gel busy for good
roads.