The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1905-09-07
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Something to Think About.

Something to Think About.
AO~ E there is any n class OF
W our people deserving Of
Q : special favor at the hands
of the Government it is
~ the agricultural class, or
strictly speaking, the far
mers. No class of people has ever
done so much for the United States as
the farming people. The farmers
tanned the continent from a wilderness
n made our country the very garden
of the world, annually furnishing
about seventy per cent. of our national
exports. In respect to what they have
done for the Government they need
no herald; in respect to what they de-
serve at the hands of the Government
every patriotic citizen, in public as
we'll 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 Re-
public was instituted. The time has
come when they must have relief. I'm
der present highway conditions most
everywhere the American farmer is
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, he could
market his products at a profit for
his toll. Now, however, he must leave
the farm in summer or early fall-the
only time when the roads are paSsable
to market his products, and then al
ways on a ~eOngested market, or take
the chances of a hub-deep haul that
kills his stock, breaks wagon and har-
ness, wears III 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
w2Ats for no man, and which, neglect
eA, charges it up to the man behind
the pillow. We all 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 plow; with bad roads, as they are
now, as they have been from the be-
SLl1A1uS anu Us they VIII UC uAlI liz
Government Of the United States ex-
tends its aid as suggested in the
Brownlow-Latimer bill, he must be
the great national sufferer. 1t has been
calculated by the Department of Az
riculture that every time the sun sets
the bad roads Of the United States
cost the American farmers $1,5OO,0OO.
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 con-
science and the national thought be
unmoved at face with such a condi-
ton? Are he people themselves
asleep to their own material saliva
ton? How long a this sapping, sap
ping, 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
house?
We hope to see the suggested good
roads legislation go through Congress
the coming winter. 1t will, if the peO-
pie get together and demand it. Let
ne~ighborhood and county meetings be
held everywhere and petitions go for
ward to Senators and Representatives.
Write to your Senator for Senate Doc
ument 2O4. Talk to your neighbor
about it. Urge him to write. Let us
all get busy for good roads.-Uptown
Weekly.