The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1905-05-27

- y country and in AL avoc:
) ~ q tions of life are beGlnnln
u 10 to realize the importanc
1HO~ of Il better Improvement q
he public highways. 1t is being fei
hat the future interest of -AmGrica1
agriculture will be retarded i'll il
| growth unless the construction Of Bel
ter roads are commenced. 1t is frl
hat money spent in the undertaking
by the National and State govern
nlents. if wisely directed. would be rt
turned to the people prolitabiy. Sue
III undertaking by our Government
would be an enormous one. Vet Suci
| IN aid to the agricultural classes. 70
suitlng in bringing about 4 more Uni
versal prosperity on the farm, Wouh
more than compensate the cXpcnli
ure OF the public fund. The very OK
| lstenco OF our nation, and the future
prosperity of the American people o.
Ill classes and avocations depend no
ar@ely but wholly upon the success o.
tne farmer. We are net only fcpdins
and clothing 1o,Go0.O0D Of our own pco
pie but the world is annually hec0m
.h@ more dependent upon the agricu
tufal resources Of this country. Hun
urCuS OF millions OF dollars are ANN,
iiiy appropriated by the National Coy.
eminent which is expended in the in
terest Of the cities of our country
congressman and Senators appropriate
the peoples money with lavishneSs
which is growing each year more reck
less in the erection or Improvement OF
public buildings or other things de-
manded by the larger cities of the
country. The improvements of water
ways by the National Government if
wisely done, is an indirect aid to tie
farmer, but of more material assist
ance to those who actually enjoy ther
benefits in daily intercourse with the
commercial traffic of the farmers Dro-
ducts,
What we want to see and which we
nave right to demand is that the Ma.
GoEal Government appreciate the posi-
tlon CT the farmer and extend to him
that elirect aid and assistance to which
ne ls entitled. We are heavily taxed
ilrec1iy and indirectly. We should re-
celvc such attention and assistance as
the Importance of tie agriculturist is
10 the prosperity and welfare of his
county. The annual appropriation
made to the Agricultural Department
it Washington is largely restricted By
law t. meet the personal wishes of the
members of the National Legislature.
The Most important literature of the
Agricultural Department can only be
obtained by the farmer making request
through his representative in Congress,
and eFen then the number of any par.
ticular bulletin is restricted.
In these counties where the public
roads are worked by hired or convict
labor. under plant of taxation. the
of the road construc.
ton should be supplied with good
level. and his work made to conform
to the instrument rather than to the
naked eye. So grade the roadbed and
arrange the bitches on either side that
he r;:inwater will be carried off ran.
Oily and have no time to settle on the
0ed, ana start up a system of surface
cutting by our narrow tired wheels. 1t
S estimated that on every mile of our
country roads of standard width there
ats each year $1,000 tons of water.
IN 0u: characters of soil generally this
water will stick ard work the dirt I'm
ntO soft mud. We cannot, therefore.
lave good roads unless we arrange to
ret rid of this surplus water. This can
'nly be done on dirt roads by so elc-
'atIng the centre of the bed and put
ing in wide deep bitches that will
ause The rain to run rapidly off. Every
iecc Of roadbed graded properly
houlG be followed by a heavy steam
I horse power roller. The dirt is ce-
lented together. the rain as it falls |
trikea hard, slick surface and
washes off. Besides all the little ine-
ualities in the road surface are filed |
T flattened down, which nothing less |
han the roller can accomplish. The
ming most important now to do is to |
rade. surface up and drain the dirt
padded so as to render travel over
lem inviting and economical.
When these things shall have been
ccomplished perhaps the way may be
lade clear to advance further along
le line of progress in the desirable
lrection of securing first-class' perma.
ant roads. To undertake detailed
atement in figures Of the annual loss
dollars to the farmers of the coun-
Y by reason of bad roads would be a
luminous piece of work. This is un-
,cessary. because every farmer real
e. the extra cost which bad roads i'm
'se upon him. The thing to do is to
t out OF the old ruts. build up a solid.
vel and substantial foundation bN
hlch the future travel in the country
ay be just what it should be. We
ust arouse ourselves to action and
every effort OF our energies be ex-
nGed in an enGeavOr to make the flu.
re of our lifework more prosperous.
ntented and happy. The more rapid
of good roads will large.
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