The Democratic advocate., 1909-08-13
BAD ROADS ARE COSTLY
WHAT IMPROVED HIGHWAYS WOULD
MEAN TO CARROLL COUNTY
Address OF Guy W. Steele at GFangeF'S
Picnic, TaleytOWn

Following is the address of Guy w.
Steele delivered at the Changers pic
mic, Taneytown, Wednesday, August
IL:
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentle
men: A difficult case some ten years
ago compelled me to study thorough
ly the highway legislation in Mary
land, in order to be able to properly
protect my clients interest. TO show
the impracticability OF the location
of the proposed road | was forced to
investigate the effect of low places
and steep grades from, scientific
standpoint upon the durability OF
road. Though my case was over how
ever, before l completed my research,
and the proposed road did not go
through the almshCuse farm, yet the
interest then aroused in the construc-
ton of highways did not cease and
have continued to read with avidity
and discuss with pleasure any ques-
ton realting to good roads. l then
became and am still firmly convinced
that good roads mean more highly
cultivated farms, more prosperous
farmers, more happy homes. To OBJ
tain such result should be the aim
of all men, irrespective of their dwell
ing place, profession or calling, for
whatever aids the producers of our
country, those who till the soil and
feed the multitude, will increase the
nations wealth and result in un-
told benefits and advantages to all
the people, And right in this con-
nection let me say that do not wish
to be considered, or the remarks l
make to be viewed, in the light of
one who is a selfish advocate, one
who is interested only in good roads
because he is connected with farm
ers, because in standing for the i'm
provement of our highways l con-
scientiously believe that l am sup
porting a cause whose benefits and
advantages will be enjoyed not only
by those who dwell close to nature,
but also by those who live in cities
and depend upon you for their daily
bread, for whatever aids you to get
it to them more cneap1y is their
saving. Hence / believe that good
roads will benefit not only those who
use, them but those whom they serve.
and the city will be served doubly
by them, for they will bring to it not
only what they consume, but will also
enable them to sell to you what they
manufacture. He is a narrow
minded individual and has looked at
the question in a most superficial
manner who for moment would say
that the improvement of our high
ways was a question in which the
farmer was alone interested, as he is
alone to be benefited. The man in
the city is vitally interested. You
can live without roads, but without
means for you to reach him with
your food the man in the city will
die.
But I do not intend to talk today
about the advantages of good roads
to the city, for this is a rural audi
ance; neither do | intend to devote
my time entirely to setting forth the
advantages of good roads to a farm
er, for it is surely unnecessary. You
who have driven in winter through
mud hub deep, and in summer
through dust foot deep, know they
are a good thing and much to be
desired. Desiring them, you would
have them if it was not for one
thing, their cost. You look on them
as a luxury and do not think you
can afford to pay the price. This
is not true; they are not a luxury
More nearly do they approach a ne
cessity, for the difference between
good roads and bad roads is frequent
ly the difference between profit and
loss. And so in the time I have al
lowed mel have decided to talk about
the economic benefits of good roads
from a practical standpoint.
A Means of Intercourse.
Some one has said that nations
civilization can be measured by Its
roads. Although this is not true
strictly speaking, because with the
advent of flying machines we can
readily conceive of civilized COM
munity without any roads, yet as an
expression of the truth that advance
ment and progress depends upon the
intercourse between people, it is cor
rect 1t is by the exchange of ideas
by seeing how others do things that
we improve our lives, and anything
that tends to render social inter
course easy is a material benefit
Man is naturally social animal. God
/ in the beginning saw that it was moi
we'll for him to be alone, and this
characteristic has drawn us together
from the small clans with their chief
l tain's stronghold to nations with oul
| large L
of the city, the advantages it has beer
4 able to obtain by reason OF easy inter
course and association, in the coun-
try and our boys will not leave the
farm. Make it SO that rainy or freez'
ing weather in winter does not near
staying at home and seeing no one
and we'll be more contented. You
know how the telephone has made life
more pleasant by reason of the ease
with which we are enabled to com
municate with our neighbors. Thinl
of being able to go to town w1thou
difficulty no matter what conditions
of weather prevail. But you say
though this is pleasant, yet | dom
think the joy is worth the price
! Where. and how will l save money
from good roads; show me where
get any return for the money | viii
have invested, not in fun, but IL
good, hard, cold cash
4 This question is one that canno
be answered with mathematical cor
rectness, but it is one to which logi
! cal reply can be given. BY a process:
). of reasoning one can eliminate some
of the expenses of bad roads, and tina
will give us a fair idea of the saving
of good ones. Though this is not alb
solutely satisfactory, it is sufficient.
accurate to demonstrate that to de
lay longer in having them is expen
sive and a bad business policy. Ther'
are numerous items of expense tha
we now have which good roads vii
either eliminate or greatly curtail
til, mi