The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-03-20
Rural Delivery's Demands


But the large crops and high -,
OF all farm products for the past pt f0
years, together with the general NV
perity of the whole country tons OS
increase the desire for tho
things of this world, and as sSva
more leisure to enjoy what Wa b.N
The increased number of peonlo ="
ride over the country for o,th.
pleasure or business, to say notbisl
of the driving required by the g,oss
system of rural delivery which VA
so recently been inaugurated bas
created a pressing demand from nv
end of the country to the otbar -
better grade of highways than bav.
heretofore been dreamed of. Son.
roads will be built by the natiOa.'
government and others by the stato.
but the counties will ALWAYS ba ~
greatest promoters and builder. y
good roads. &
Some States are already spendir.
millions on their highways. Magsa
chusetts appropriated s25 goo .OOO
few years ago for that purDosa ANA
now has many miles Of beantif"
roads as smooth as asphalt navina
All Europe abounds in fine roads.
but they have been at it for cantr
ries and have learned the art To ma,
lection. 1t may take generations :,
put all our roads in as good conditior
as they are abroad, but We hav.
made the beginning, and each yas,
will doubtless show much progress .,
a whole. Even California is fartha,
advanced in road building than u.
are in Ohio.
Here is what George W. Latina,
chairman of the Joint Good Road,
Committee OF the Ohio Board NJ
Commerce and the Ohio State Grange
has to say on the subject of goM
roads in his recent report:
THE farther one studies and in.
vestigates this subject, the more he
is convinced that it is one of tha
greatest problems of the United
States. 1t touches the welfare and
interest of more individuals than auv
other one question that is before thu
American public to-day. There il
not a man. woman or child in the
country or city, that is not Obliged 10
use the roads.
Owing to the extremely bad
roads of the present time, the farmer,
who is the producer, is Obliged to
haul his product to the nearest mar.
ket at such time during the year as
the roads are passable This occurs
within two or three months in the
fall, after harvest. This glut and
over-supply makes the very lowest
prices of the year for the producer
and the consumer in the cities and
centres of population is obliged to
pay the very highest prices during
the months of the bad weather. Good
roads will eliminate such conditions
so that the farmer can haul his pro-.
duct to the market at any time dur.
ing the year, whenever the demand
calls for it, and the consumer can
buy whenever the goods are wanted.
Thus the producer will be able to
secure better price for his product
and the consumer pays lower prices
for his necessities.
For years the United States and
STATE governments have been appro
priating money for waterways, steam
railroads and other means of conn
munication, all of which are good
but these questions become insignifl
cant of what good roads will bring
to the inhabitants of this country
Everybody should be interested h|
this question, and should urge Fedl
eral, State and county aid for im|
provements which at this time are all
vital to the welfare of our country"
The subject is being agitatedl
everywhere.