Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1908-07-19
GOOD ROADS


the convict problem, has come a re-
viyal of interest in the question of
good roads.
In yesterdays Times-Recorder ap-
peared an interview with Mr.. Frank
Sheffield, member of the County
Commissioners, on the matter of i'm
proving Sumters roads. 1t deserves
the careful consideration of every
citizen.
In the building of good roads, town
and country are each interested. 1t
is to the interest of the merchant and
cotton buyer that the communication
between him and his clients should
be of the best possible, while the
benefits to be derived by the farmer
are even more numerous. Time and
money are both involved to a far
greater extent than the average far
mer. realizes. Else the demand would
have been so insistent that long
ago the roads of Sumter would have
1t will be conceded by nearly every
one that the ideal existence is
country home, with the advantages of
a city within easy reach. And dis
tances are not to be measured in
miles, but in the time it takes to
make the journey. New York and
San Francisco are nearer together
now than Americas and Atlanta would
without a railroad AS the iron rails
narrow the distances between cities
to minimum, so do good county
roads bring every resident almost to
the borders of the county seat, or
smaller towns and near each other.
Good roads permit larger loads
and this in turn means fewer trips
to the market with products of the
soil.
1t means a cheapening of freight
rates as it were, a cutting in half per-
haps, or even more
The suggestion of Mr. Sheffield that
bonds should be issued to provide
equipment for working the conyicts
which Sumter will undoubtedly ask
for seems a timely one. With steam
rollers and scrapers the labor of
man is multiplied, and it will be the
plainest kind of economy to invest
in these accessories to intelligent
road building 1t is pointed out by
Mr.. Sheffield that the interest and
sinking fund on the bonds necessary
would be more than made good by
the reduced cost of repairing scienti-
fically constructed roads, as compar-
ed to the expenditure of time and
money needed to keep in repair the
present highways. This does not
take into account at all the saving
to the farmer in being able to haul
heavier loads and to make quicker
trips, with less cost to wagon and
buggy than 81 present. All that would
be bonus for having permitted him
self the luxury of good roads.
What better thing could the coun-
ty want than to spend a hundred
thousand dollars on the roads, and
save more than enough to repay
the sum by the time it falls due? It's
like eating the cake and having it
too.
1t is to be hoped that the citizens
will come to full realization of
what good roads will mean, and to
the fact that they can be had almost
for the asking, and without real
cost.
With highways in splendid condi-
ton, the value of land and its pro-
ducts would be enhanced. Home
seekers from other sections of the
state and the country would learn
of the fine roads of progressive Sum
ter, and would be attracted to this
county as a place to establish pros
porous farming industries. In the
cities and towns the stimulus would
be felt, and the county would be the
envied of its neighbors and the pride
of it's citizens And all these things
seem to be within easy reach. All
that's needed is to put forth the
hand and pluck the fruit