The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1905-08-16

sDecluI IuNOr AT tne nunuS
of the Government 1t is
SoR 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 wilderness
and 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
well 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 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 congested market or take
the chances of a hub-deep haul that
Kills his stock, breaks wagon and har-
ness. wears ont 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
waits for no man. and which. neglect
ed, charges it up to the man behind
the plow. 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-
ginning and as they will be until the
Government of the United States eX-
tends its aid as suggested in the
Latimer bill. he must be
the great national sufferer. 1t has been
calculated by the Department of Ag-
riculture that every time the sun sets
the bad roads of the United States
cost the American farmers S1,500,000
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
nnmoved at face with such condi-
ton? Are Ihe people themselves
asleep to their own material saliva
ton? How long can 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
neighborhood and county meetings be
held everywhere and petitions go for
ward to Senators and Representatives.
Write to your Senator for Senate Doc
ument 204. Talk to your nt,ghbor
about it, Urge him to write. Let us
all get busy for good roads.-Uptown
Weekly.