Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1905-07-27
in respect Of his honor. He is
succeeded by John X. King, Sem
Tor commander at Washington.
Something To Think About.

II there is any one class of our
people deserving of special favor
at the hands of the government
it 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 farm
ers tanned the continet from a
wilderness and made our country
the very garden Of the world, an
nually furnishing about 70 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 gov
ernment 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 bear
ing the heaviest burdens of life
since the Republic was instituted.
The time has come when they
must have relief. Under present
highway conditions most every
where 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 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 always on a
coEgested market, or take the
chances on 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 croI
season which waits for no man,
and which, neglected, charges il
up to the man behind the plow
We all know what that means.
With good roads, the farmer
could do his town-going in rair
or snow, or when the ground i.
too wet to plow; with bad roads
as they are now, as they have
been from the beginning and a.
they will be until the government
of the United States extends it
aid as suggested in the Brown
low Latimer bill, he must be tn,
great national sufferer. 1t ha
been calculated by the Depart
ment of Agriculture that ever
time the sun sets the bad road
of the United States cost tn
American farmers $1,000. OOO
: These are government figures
How any public man can refus
to support legislation that vii
stop this dreadful drain passe
/ the understanding of the averag
mind. Can the National Cor
r science and the National Though
E be unmoved at face with such
condition? Are the people then
Z selves asleep to their own mater
: ial salvation? How long ca
y. this sapping of farm life an
e farm vitality go on before tn
I American farm home is DESTROYED
n And how long, pray tell, can til
y Republic stand after the de,
truction of the American farl
home?
} We hope to see the suggeste
n good-roads Legislation go throug
\ Congress the coming winter.
\ will, if the people get togethe
\ and demand it. Let neighbo
\ hood and county meetings be hel
) everywhere and petitions go TO
y ward to Senators and Represet
\ tatives. Write to your Senate
y for Senate Document 2O4. Tai
y to your neighbor about it. Urg
\ him to write. Let us all get bus
y for good roads.
oil