The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-12-15


In the old time the lover would
drive miles to see the girl of his
choice and find there his rival in
her affections. Then the two as
pirants for her hand would pro-
ceed to the trial of endurance of
sitting each other out. Many
Young lady, when conversation
has failed, subjects are exhausted,
and this stubborn effort was made,
was the victim of nervous prostra-
ton. But today be calls up his
fair friend on the telephone, and
she appoints the hour when she
will be at home, naming it from
the time table of the trolley, and
he comes down on the trolley, and
unbeknownst to him, his rival who
has been doing his best work be-
forehand, gets on the other side
of the same car and HES him
away. The harmony of the neigh
borhood is complete.
INCREASE OF FARM VALUES.
This brings us naturally to
subject of the most vital import
ance to the farmer and to the
consumer, and which has been
neglected from the first settle
ment of the country until within
the last ten years. There is
great opportunity to enhance the
value of farms, to increase the
earnings of the farm, and to add
to the general prosperity of the
country in the making and main
tanning of good country roads
that there has been in the con-
struction of steam railroads and
trolley lines. 1t is a happy omen
for the future of our State and of
every State which is giving at
tention to this subject that inter
est in the matter is rapidly in
creasing. 1t was not until 1898
that the State interviewed to per-
form its proper share in this great
and beneticent work. Under the
law then enacted, the State pays
fifty per cent, the county thirty
five per cent, and the town the
balance for improving the high
ways. There are in round num-
bers $4,000 miles of dirt roads
outside of the Incorporated cities
and villages in our State. There
are s, 500 miles of steam rail.
roads and about an equivalent
numb Der of miles of what might
be designated as main highways
to which all others are contrib
utary. For the purpose of trans
portation we have also 522 miles
of canals. and ISIS miles of
trolley lines, but the number of
trolleys outside of the cities is,
as yet, not very large. 1t has been
estimated by the authorities of
the Department of Agriculture
aud of the State Engineer aud
Surveyors office of our own State,
that highways, up to the best
modern standard, would add
from ten to fifteen dollars an acre
TO the farm lands tributary to
them, would add fifteen dollars
a year TO the earnings of every
horse, aud would place to the
credit of the farms $4,000, 600
year in the decreased cost of
transportation of their products.
We must remember that the dirt
road OF the present and of our
ancestors is practically useless
i for several months in the year.
while the improved road would be
at the service of the public the
whole year round. The cost of
maintenance ofthe improved road
is far less than that which must
be expended now in what is called
the maintenance and improve
ment OF the country highways.
In New York State we spend
80, 600, 900 a year in days labor
upon our roads, with the result
that if our fathers came from
their graves on a tour of inspec.
ton they might be pleased to see
that nothing has changed from
their day. When | was practic-
lug Law in the country, it took me
nearly eight hours in the spring
OF the year 10 drive twelve miles
through tie mud TO the court
house for which | was bound.
have just returned from u short
tour upon the continent of
Europe. There is nothing in the
old world Of which we cannot
boast of having better except
their cathedralS. their antiQui,
ties and their highways.
I HAULING CHEAP IN EUROPE.
The average cost of haul for
the farmer from bis home to the
market in the United States is
more than three times what il is
IN continental countries. Ii il
not far to go when you find that
France alone has contributed out
Of the national treasury for roads
about So. O00. 900. 1t is source
nf uarScnOl ,,ar@s S.,.s -