The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-05-08
GOOD ROADS AND BUSINESS.

PesA AohuOuue" " any IucStIOH tHdL uO"
presents or that can possibly be sug-
gested, because good roads would do
more for the country than any other
one thing that can be named, or any
dozen or more things combined,
writes w. p. Brownlow. The ques-
tion is outside of the cotton fields
may say, its entire constitutionality
is now almost universally admitted,
and the necessity for it is present in
every household in the land. 1t is
important to every calling and con-
dition; to every trade and profess
Sion; to every toiler in whatever field
of human endeavor; to every manu-
featuring interest and industrial con-
Germ; to every church and school, and
to the stability of the government it.
self.
! am aware that many people in
cities and towns regard the road ques-
tion as one affecting the farming in
terests alone. If this were true, it
would be simple justice and only a
recognition Of the existence Of re-
ciprocal obligation between the gov
ernment and the people for the gen.
eral government to extend its aid, for
the reason that all wealth and all
prosperity depends upon agriculture.
The farmers are the only real pro-
ducers; all others are consumers. The
farmers preserve the balance of trade
in Americas favor year by year.
Strike down agriculture, and chaos
would quickly follow; cripple agri-
culture and every interest in the land
would suffer. But it is not true that
the farmers alone are interested in
this great question. 1t is pregnant
with interest to the consuming popu-
lation Of towns and cities, and to
railroads, manufacturers and trades
men as we'll. Furthermore, church
and school interest must inevitably
be retarded while road conditions re-
main as they are today.
The rural schools are the schools
of the masses in which are laid the
deep and lasting foundations for COM
ing lives of usefulness and for the
betterment Of mankind. The rural
churchhousc is the birthplace of good
character, of high ideas of life, and
of patriotic purpose. Neither rural
church nor school can flourish where
impossible roads abound, and if
these can not prosper the American
home can not long survive, because
the American home can only be per-
petuated in its present glory through
the uninterrupted progress of civil
lization and the wholesome growth
of christianity and the speed of elu-
cation in the land.
There is a feature of this question
which persons accustomed to thor
oughness in every other line of
thought seem to entirely overlook,
especially dwellcrs in towns and
cities. 1t is the universal interest
involved, and upon this I desire to
speak with special emphasis. Aside
from church, school and social econ.
omy, there is meat in the question
for every man to digest. If the com.
mon roads of the county were brought
to a condition that would enable
farmers to market their products al
all seasons of the year, the cost OF
living in town and city would bt
among laboring people and the opera
tlves of industrial concerns woult
largely decrease, if it did not entrel,
disappear.-Collier's Weekly.
The people hereabout who live il
the towns regard the road question a:
of interest to them as much or NOR.
than to the people who live in th,
country. In fact it is the people VIII,
live in the country who oppose an,
taxation for the building of roads
They would be more benefited if i
Is possible for one citizen to receive
more benefit from this great publ,
Improvement than another. Tb,
j benefits to them would be direct anf
immediate and tangible.
Why every one should not be en-
Enthusiastically interested in this grea
question and be eager to invest mon
ew in it is and has long been marve
to us and past understanding. Coco
roads would make the country tn,
4 ideal place Of residence. It woult
give us better schools, make churche.
nearer and make country life pleas
Ii ant and desirable. Let all Of us 60,
behind this great public blessing and
Z hrinr II n oil n,,,. on,,nfy tftE .....