The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1907-05-07
GOOD ROADS SLOGAN.

A slogan has gone nrth from the /
postofice department that Is having a .
wonderful effect throughout the coun. /
tr. II is, in concrete form;
Good roads or no rural free mail
delivery"
The time has arrived when the gov
eminent practically can dictate its I
own terms concerning the rural deliy /
cry ~ mail when rural free delivery F.
wa established decade aeo. there F.
established about a decade ago, there /
was scramble among congressman T.
TO induce the postoffce department TO |
give their districts the benefit VI the
service. The department officials
know very little of the diffcutles-
and In some instances the actual dan
gers o. be encountered by rural car
riers. Many routes were established
through the influence Of members OF
congress IN various parts of the coun.
try that eventually had 10 De abandon.
ed, because the roads, during at least
part Of the year, were absolutely
impossible.
Through experience. the depart
mont Metals learned good deal
about the work Of the rural carrier
service. one Of the first requisites of
efficient rural mail service. It was
found. is good roads. In fact, expert
ence has demonstrated conclusiyely
that unless the roads arc in excellent
condition It is waste o. time and
money to try TO maintain a prompt
mail service over them
Finally the subject was taken up
by the postofIice department with the
officials OF the agricultural depart
mcnt In which n good roads depart
mont IS maintained. The two depart
ments, working I'm conjunction. have
accomplished wonders In the improve
mcnt Of country highways. They have
been assisted materially. too, by many
automobile clubs In cities. particular.
ly cities uf the east II Is matter of
concern, Of course, to every owner or
driver OF an automobile that the roads
in the territory In which he lives
should be kept in fine condition. The
influence Of both urban and rural res.
idents, therefore has been cast in
favor Of the maintenance OF good
roads, because It is to the interest OF
both that the highways should he
kept In the best possible condition.
Now, the postJfIlce department has
Indicated to county officials and road
supervisors throughout the country
that It is absolutely necessary for
them to keep their roads in good con.
ditlon. If they do not, the rural mail
service will be discontinued. The de.
partment has done all It can to en-.
courage the maintenance ~ good
roads. but II the people themselves,
will not lend n hand they will have TO
go without rural delivery Of mail
The pressure on the department npr
the establishment OF now rural routes
Is so great that the government is in
position to dictate terms on which
they shall be established
In every part OF the country. more
particularly In the south and east.
every effort is being made by the
county and municipal officers to meet
the requirements of the postofice de
partmcnt The local officials show a
disposition to improve their roads ana
In some instances where the county
officials have been dcrclict In their
duty in this regard, the farmers in
the vicinity Voluntarily have devot-
ed time aud money to the improve.
mCnt OF the roads In order to insure
the continuance of the delivery 0f
their mail
The result Of the good roads agi-
tatNn Is manifest everywhere In the
country. by officials who have inyes-
tigatcu the subject It Is asserted that
greater improvements have been
wrought in country roads during the
past ten years than in the fifty years
Immediately preceding II Is the pur-
pCsc of the postohice department Ia
keep n close observation of the roads
on which mail routes are maintain
ed To this end. n department inspec-
tor will 20 over every route at stated
| periods and II will be on his recon-.
/ mondatlon very largely that the
routes either win be continued or
| abandoned