Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-08-26

waving the farm. The writer believes
mat the policy Of consolidation and
transportation OF pupils furnishes a SO
luton OF the problem il the policy can be
perfected. The next and most inpor-
rant question Is: how can this be done:
IN what way. and after what prepare
ton, can a perfect system be estab-
lished or made possible OF establish
ulehtg We are firmly of the opinion
that the system Of education outlined
and which means so much for the coun-
try viii never be perfected and become
a liked policy until there Is national aid
In the construction of good wagon
roads, say along the line Of bills intro
duced In the house Of representatives
by Hon w. p. Brownlow. Of Tennessee
and in senate by Mr.. Latimer. of South
Carolina. IL bearings on the good roads
subject before the senate committee on
agriculture il was shown that OF ali the
roads IN the United States there are only
per cent. good. 10 per cent fairly
passable and S. per cent bad: that is.
stallers Of teams in wet weather. and
the creators of insuferable dust storms
in dry weather. Fifteen per cent are
roads, the remainder mere rights-of
way"
While striving after the best results in
Its own particular field and studiouslv
seeking Improvements under functions
that belong to IL alone. that very fnpor-
tant branch of the public service known
as the bureau OF education has. In its
investigations. gathered practical facts
and detailed statistics that furnish ire
tutaole argument in favor of national
aid Tor good roads. because no govern
ment can prosper save by the enlighten-
ment OF its people. President Roosevelt.
IN speech at st. Louis in 1909. declared
that the difference between the semi
oarbarism of the middle ages and the
I civilization which succeeded It was the
difference between poor and good means
Of communication. On Bedloe's island
in New York narbor stands Liberty En-
tightening the World. GO We into an
the earth and preach the Gospel to every
creature" means now. as when first
communicated 20 man that the hieh
ways and byways furnish a fruitful field
for Cody work. Following the con-
struction Of good roads civilization *.
pands. education increases and Chris
uanity widens and broadens its field Of
operation But education is not possible
and Christianity is retarded where
sehoolhouses cannot be reached and
where the highways are not AZ ALI sea
sons passable. No fixed policy OF CON
soidated schools viii prevail until there
Is a systematized construction of wagon
roads, and no fixed policy Of road con
struction is possible except by federal
cooperation with the states and the no.
lhtical divisions thereof.
I, The common or wagon roads are the
, primary means OF transportation and
communication. The railroads have
their uses, and they are important. but
people do not use them TO reach church
houses and school houses. Christian
civilization and education call for bef-
ter means OF propagation. Public school
work goes hand in hand with the spread
OF religion. II needs no argument to
show that every church interest and
every school Interest Is closely connected
with the question OF public road i'm
provement throughout the United
States. We are a Christian nation. and
We are an educational people The very
life OF the republic depends upon the IN
nuence OF the churches and the schools.
for these are the certain promoters OF
high ideals in citizenship and the incul.
Gators OF that fine spirit OF patriotism
which enables good government and sus-
tains Il wherever established. II there
were no other reasons why the govern
ment should at once adopt and put into
practice a good-roads policy in coopera-
ton with the states, IL should do so In
support Of public education and the
spread of the Christian religion.
We repeat that the United States bu-
reau of education, while working in its
own particular field has supplied one OF
the most foreeful arguments yet pre-
sented in favor OF national aid 20 good
roads, and we should much like TO see
every church and school journal in the
land take up the question and discuss II
for the benefit OF the cause in which they
are engaged.