Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-11-04
THE WAY TO PROGRESS.

(By Logan Waller Page, director of
the United States Office Of public
roads, the department of agricul-
ture, in "The Worlds Work").
On top of hill on the lower Browns
vile road, running out of Jackson,
Tenn, there was, a few years ago, a
big farm which had come into the pos
session of bank as satisfaction for
debt. 1t could not be sold, and it was
rapidly falling into neglect. Only a
part of 1t was rented, and that for only
500 year. Suddenly all this was
changed. A real estate dealer pur-
chased the tract, at a good price, d.
vided it into three farms, and immed-
lately sold it again. Houses were
built, fruit trees were planted, and
thrift and industry prevailed where in
dolence and improvidence had existed
but short time before. The reason
for all this was that the lower Browns
vile road had been changed from a
long streak of mud to an improved
highway.
The building of the road had come
about in this way The levee roads
leading into Jackson had been cor
duroyed to allow travel over them in
winter. Sam G. Lancaster persuaded
the county officials that macadamiz-
ing these roads would be a cheaper
and more lasting improvement, and so
it proved to be. Then came a good
roads convention, and the building OF
a 1000 foot. object-lesson road. 1t
aroused good deal of enthusiasm. hut
no definite steps were taken. Then
came the winter of great mud in
1923. The roads were impossible
1t required two strong mules to draw
milk wagon with two milk cans, and
all day was consumed in going a few
miles. For more than six weeks this
condition prevailed. No one attempt
ed to pass over these roads except in
case of dire necessity. The farmers
were locked in and all trade was stop
ped. The opportune moment had ar
rived. A mass-meeting Of tho citizens
was called and all those who could get
to it came. In the midst OF the debate
ahout the necessary bond issue fam.
or arose and said
Mr. Chairman, l am just plain
farmer and have no business trying tc
talk in this meeting. Lam all cover
ed with mud; there is mud on my
boots. and all over my clothes, ana
my hat is all spattered I'D, 100.
walked to this meeting because my
horse couldn't travel the roads I've
got little farm and sawm!ll out on
the Poplar Corner road, just little
over two miles from town, and if l
could climb up on hard road with
my truck and what lumber I've sawed,
could clear enough in one day to
pay my tax on that road, but l.
haven't got it.
Il bought some groceries from
you Cunning to merchanD this
month: yes, So worth, for carried
them out on my back; but, if had
good road, it would have been S25,
am sure"
The bonds were issued. AS soon as
the construction Of the roads began,
the Land values in the county began
to go up--in some cases, from 20 to
100 per cent. There are no houses Ito
rent" in Jackson: builders are busy,
numbers of new real estate Offices
have been opened, large tracts CT farm
land are being sub-divided and prices
are being paid which astonish the
most far-seeing champion of this now
popular movement.
New families from adjoining coun-
ties and states are constantly coming
in some to make their homes in the
city and others wanting farms on the.I
good roads" Still others, looking
ahead and anticipating profits, have
made purchases five and six miles
back from these roads, paying largely
increased prices. So much for the in
fuence of good roads upon a single
farm, and upon a community.