The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1906-03-14

the stuff for which men.toii. which
they are compelled to have at what
ever cost. And when the citizen in
townsville mechanic and operative
of the shops and factories-is forced
in winter and spring to pay exorb-
liant prices for those articles of
household necessity which went
begging tor buyers at low prices the
preceding fall, he figures the in
creased cost CT living i'll comparison,
and grows restless and discontinued,
and is easily led into strikes and
other labor disturbances that are so
disastrous to the business of the
country and SO prolific of other
hurtful consequences. This, of course,
is not all hat enters into strike
causes, but it contributes a full share.
1t is a perfectly plain proposition
that the continuous, orderly operation
of industrial business depends on
measurably contented employees:
that men are never, and never CAN be
cOntented when the cost of living is
above their earning capacity: and
that prices OF foodstutfs from the
farm would always be at d DESCENT
living level to all concerned ii the
country had systematically improved
highways ove which farmers could
travel to market any day in the year.
These farmers woulo then realize
better prices for their products than
they now do, at less cost for market
ing, and still be able to sell to all
classes of consumers at lower prices
than are forced by spectators in the
bad roads season.
Again: The farmer. the mainstay
and dependence of the republic in
every emergency, feels that his SUBJ
stance is annually swallowed mp in
the unhappy conditions hat deny him
market, communication at
his best time to sell. He is discOn-
tented when remembering that he pays
about 90 per cent of all the taxes,
and yet receives no direct cOnsidera-
ton at the hands of the government.
while unnumbeped millions have been
given from the national Treasury to
better conditions everywhere except
upon the farm. The man who digs out
of the soil hal which sustains all
progress and prosperity knows that
while government aid has been
laxished upon railroads and OCEAN
going commerce moi one dollar, since
the construction of the old Cumber-
land road, has been expended by the
United States to facilitate commerce
between the farm and the market. The
more than four hundred million dol
which have been given to river
and harbor Improvement went out af
the Treasury on the theory that the
OF transportation faci-
lities is a matter of vital public con-
The theory is correct, and IT,
with it the Endorsement oil
government aid in the improvement
Of wagon roads, because these arej
the primary and therefore the mosti
lines in our system. While
1t is u~ndeniable that the influence of
public schools, the press, the pulpit
and other institutions marks the
progress of civilization, yet all these
are o Or less dependent upon the
facilities of intercourse between the
Good roads through the
country would do much to relieve the
Of population in great
titles, and thus the social fabric
would be strengthened, because rural
life is conducive to the highest moral
whereas in crowded city
vice rms riot with it's
influence.
The proposition to have the gov
'rnment cid the States in the improve
nent of highways, as embodied in the
bills now before Congress, means only
% discharge a national obligation.
The government belongs to the people.
n its control there is a community of
involved. The necessity of
government aid to good roads is SO
apparent that it is outside the
of controversy. Bad roads
n the United States cost the produce
ng people 81. 500. 900 every twenty-four
'ours. This drain is fearful: it is
l-adening the national life, and is q
latiOnal life, and is q national dis