Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1905-08-02

M ~ highway IuploN tHleHl '1o'i
GN 81 those engaged in industrial
enterprise. If the common roads of
the country We're brought to a condition
that would enable farmers to market
Their products at all seasons of the
year. tie cost Of living in town and
city would be greatly lessened, and
discomfort among laboring people Il
operatives in industrial concerns would
largely decrease if it did not entirely
disappear. Why and how? Present
road conditions compel farmers to rush
Their products to market as soon as
harvested, when the roads are at their
best. rs by waiting a convenient time
they may not get there at all. If one
farmer must do this, his neighbors
must do likewise. This naturally con-
gests the market, forcing low prices to
the great detriment of the producer and
without benefit to the consumer. be-
cause the average family i'll town or
city buys only in small quantity at
one time, say d days or a weeks sup
ply. What is the result? The spacu-
lator. finding prices low and knowing
that in a little while the bad roads sea-
son Will be on when competing prod
ucts Will be kept way from trade
centres, buys up the surplus and stores
it away for the day which he knows
is surely coming when he can demand
and receive his w price for his hold
ingS-the stuff for which men toll;
which they are compelled to have. And
when the citizen in town, the mechanic
II operative of the shops and factor
les, is forced in winter and spring to
pay eNorbitant prices for those articles
of household necessity which went
begging for buyers at low prices the
preceding fall, he figures the increased
cost of living in comparison and grows
restless and disseminated and is easily
led into strikes and other labor disturb
ances. We all know what usually
follows. This, of course, is not all that
enters into strike causes, but it con.
tributes a full share. 1t ought to be
perfectly plain to American manufac-
turers that the continuous. orderly OPP
Grafton OF industrial business depends
on m~Casurably contented operatives;
that men are never contented when the
cost Of living is above their earning
capacity; and that prices of food stuffs
from the farm would be always at a
decent living level to all concerned if
We had Systematically improved high
ways over which farmers could travel
to market any day in the year. These
farmers would realize better prices fol
their products than they do and still.
be able to sell to all classes of consum
'ers at lower prices than is forced by
spectators in the bad-roads season.
If this position is sound. then the duty
OF manufacturers seems to be to lend
their every influence to the support of
the Observation-Disclosures bills which seek
to bring about systematic and scientific
highway construction and improvement
in cooperation with the States. 1t is
10 less in their own interest than that
of the farmers. who are their best
patrons after all. And it is 10 less the
interest of all consumers of farm prod
uctS III every town and city in the
United States. and of every railroad
and other corporation employing labor
of any kind. and of every railroad and
building contractor and others having
men in their employ.
We are advised that Hon. W. 2.
BroWnlow, member Of Congress from
Tennessee, is DESTROYS of hearing from
manufacturers on this question, and
will appreciate any expression of views
thereon that may be sent to him at
Washington.