The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-11-30
People Forum
GOOD Roscs.

Soou hoGLS.
Editor West Virginian:
Most OF the talk on this subject
comes from business people. And
this is In accord with, the way things
usually go. The business man is un.
periftost In all men. THIS probably
comes from the elemental strugslesfor
bread which was the first necessity
IN the early days of the history of tho
race. But since society has accumu.
lated a fair amount OF the worlds
goods. it could be expected that otbcr
interests would come ahead of this
old and material one. But It has mot
dofte SO and we must make the hest
OF the matter. Anyhow any commun.
ity should be glad When It has a body
OF alert business men in it who can
see what public improvements are
good Tor the mnierial welfare OF the
country, for whatever is good for ono
feature Is generally good for another.
ANA 1t is SO with reference TO eood
roads.
ion know enough to know what
the saving would be to our peonle II
We had good roads, In the expense or
hauling. in the saving of horse flesh
Tue saving of horse food. the saving In
wagons. harness, ETC.. the saving in
human exposure through long hours,
with Its consequent doctors bills, the
additional opportunities Of getting
things to market and from. which are
now prohibited by the condition of
the roads. All this the professional
business ma knows. He has the data
to show how other State, with their
good roads have added to the money
wealth OF the farmers. and the increas.
ed sales for the merchants In the
towns. But these | pass over to the
advantages which good roads would
be to the educational welfare OF Mar.
Ion county. First II must be said
that IL roads are not only very bad,
but IL living the life time Of an ordf.
nary man indicates anything there has
been no improvement for many de.
cades and will be none when the
school children OF to-day are grand.
parents. | went over one Of Mariop,s
most public roads a couple Of weeks
ago In a light hack drawn BY two
horses. The driver and I were the
only occupants. It took lis two hours
TO so six and o%ne.quarter miles. And
this route is prominent enough 10
have all the mail OF n very considcro.
oie Town so over II. and that twice n
DAY. should add TINT this two beurs
was made only by much beating of
the horses. Now was II any SUNRISE
that at the teachers meeting which |
subsequently, attended that the teach.
ers said I'VE cannot have a reading
circle for professional Improvement,
for the benefit OF the schools, that IS
Tor the benefit of the peoples chill.
dren. for most OF the time the roads
are too bad. In other words. these
teacheFs notwithstanding their poor
salaries arc willing to come together
for. Improvement and make ready to
give the children the show they dc.
serve, but their coming together Is nm
almost physical impossibility. or
course the men might walk through
the fields and woods. but It woHls
mostly be too damp for the ladies TO
20 that way. And so the Reading Cir.
Gle is not n success in old Marion
county. But more: MIR. Faust is en-.
deavurins to have district teachers
meetings which meet about every 9th.
er month. But these are interfered
with the same way, One mar who at.
tended n OF these meetings a few
days ago, when It was time to 20 TO
his home six miles away. took the
train. expressed surprise when he
said that by riding on the train SIX.
teen miles and walking through the
fields two miles. he would avoid that
six miles Of bad road. He is a big,
earnest nYs man devoted to his profession
and the county values his services 10
her children at $4,000 per month, loss
than what many fourteen year old