Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1905-05-26
A KERBY CITIZEN
ON GOOD ROADS
Says Agitation and Education
Must Be Done to Arouse
Public Sentiment.

All reforms in any given avenue OF
thought, in the social, political or
public utilities are necessarily slow
in the beginning. Great oaks from
little acorns grow" The question Of
good roads will be met with all
kinds Of augmentation pro and con,
but there can only be one result in
the end. The eyes Of the blind. or
short shighted citizens will finally be
opened to SEQ that improvement at
any point Will extend its benefits to
the whole community. No section Of
country can live unto itself, any more
than can individuals Any evil will
effect every home in It's influence
sooner or later. We can not think Of
any plague in district that does not
derange tho normal state of the dis.
trict.
Education is needed in all directions
Good roads men must need do IAN
Talk" until poor roads people can
see the waste, wear and tear, and
destruction caused by poor system.
Congressman have sent out many
thousands Of circulars. bearing profit
able information concerning the road
traffic of the land. Is it necessary TO
keep up poor road, when we know
that IT jars rigs to pieces, causes extra
and unnecessary strain on harness
Aud more especially wears out the
faithful horse2 To say nothing of the
discomfort rendered inevitable to the
driver aud people riding in the wag-
ons, buggies or carryalls Of all kinds
We are often met with the plea OF
taxpay yers, who say 1--WE pay taxes to
the county and wo ought to have the
good roads. " This line of talk
would be all right IL the county had
nothing else to do but build
roads We all know that such is not
the case. There are many things re-
quirod and the money in hand must
meet many essential needs for the
time, and il can only be sufficient to
partially meet the many large de-
mands for the public utilities and
conyeoiences. So VIZ are finally com.
PEELED to levy special taxes for ex-
traordinary needs Thus it is neces.
sary 10 create bond issue to meet
special needs Since it is the pook ct
book or bank account that most
vitality interests men, let US suggest
to them that good permanent roads il
the best investment property holders
and business men can make.
Good roads are pleasure to drive
or walk over; we will go miles out
of our way to have the pleasure OF
riding over good road. If it acts so
kindly on the beasts Of burden. 1t
acts nicely on the rigs aud there is
less grinding, wearing aud tearing of
harness II can not he too often re-
peated that il is the cheapest kind of
an Investment which returns com
pound interest to all who share in It's
privileges Money making corpor-
ations are compelled to shut down
their works because tho roads are
bad, especially where no railroad
oxistR. We must have good trans
portation facilities to encourage en-
terprise and industry. The farmer
aud merchants and all lines of bust.
ness receives its respective and due
share of the good results obtained.
We now spend thousands of dollars
annually to improve roads mostly
done by inexperienced road builders,
who do the work to meet the present
demand, with q limited means. At
best il ia but temporary and not per
manent, thus IN its tinal analogy it is
a mere waste Of money, bringing but
temporary aud not lasting results.
The best is always the cheapest in the
long run. Then take tho question
seriously, ana give it due thought aud
attention instead Cf trihing and
sighting the mattor 1t pays to
think ana plan and to foot tho bill.
1t interests you directly. Il is meant
for you, aud not the other follow.
Taking It up in this true hight will
not be- all talk, hut all work.
HENRN kLOpPER,
Kerby, Oregon.