The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1909-08-20
THE GOOD RoADs MOVEMENT.

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far-reaching in its effect We are enter
ing upon period in which there is to be
revolution nightly affecting social con-
ditions and educational and religious adj
vancement, period in which the loneli.
ness of farm life is to be banished by the
closer intercommunication between the
people Of the agricultural districts with
each other aud with adjacent towns and
cities.
Bad roads have meant more than
simply an enormous loss, a wastage of
time and effort in getting the products of
the farm TO market and the merchandise
which the farmer buys from the depot
back to the country place. The aggFe-
gate cost of bad roads runs into the hun
dreds of millions of dollars annually, and
the farmers and the people away from
the centers of population are the ones
who have had to pay the cost.
The automobile, the use of which is
helping to stimulate an interest in good
roads, is only an expression or exponent
of new conditions upon which all civiliza.
ton has entered. We have come upon a
time when the gas or internal-combus-
ton engine has started revolution
equally as important, equally as far
reaching in its effect. as that of the loco
motive, which for the last three.qnarters
of a century has been the greatest
material power in human advancement.
The internal combustion engine makes
possible the lessening Of work on the
farm. It makes possible the pumping of
water for use in country homes and for
stock. 1t makes possible many things
around a farm and in connection with
farm life heretofore impossible except by
hard manual labor. II makes possible
the motor boat, which is found on every
river of the land. The development of
this great engine for human progress
will necessitate very broad and rapid
building of good roads, for the auto
mobile IN its present uses for pleasure is
but the forerunner Of the auto-truck,
/ WuiCu ~OOu Will OC lOuuu III use SuEOu&u.
out the country wherever good roads ard
good streets make feasible the hauling in
this way rather than by the slow and
costly wagon of the present.
| When one begins seriously to con-
template the changes which are being
brought on us by the development of the
internal combustion engine, the benefit
of the motor boat and the motor car, the
small engine, the facility of travel which
these things and good roads will bring
about, the Imagination is apt to almost
stagger US with the limitless possible adj
vancement of the period upon which we
have entered.
! The man who is working for the build.
ing of good roads is directly working for
the betterment of mankind. He is work.
ing for the advancement of education and
religion and for all that makes for the
highest civilization. Of what use are
schools and churches in country districts
If for Ave or six months ofthe year coun.
try roads are so impossible that they can
not be attended? OF what value to the
growers are the products of the farms
which can only reach the market at a cost
of transportation by wagon which elimi-
mates all profit
| The charm Of country, the beauty of
nature are pictured as reasons why farm
life should appeal to the people, but when
farm life means drudgery and separation
from friends by reason of bad roads, il
is not to be wondered at that the people
of the agricultural districts, young and
old, crowd the cities in order to get to
place where conveniences and modern,
comforts of daily travel are available.
The construction of good roads will
change this. 1t will add thousandfold
&c. the charm of country life. 1t will in
crease the prosperity of the farmers. 1t
will be the most powerful factor in stem
ming the movement of population towards
the city and making the country boy and
girl happy at home.
The gospel of good roads ought to be
preached with the zeal of the missionary,
and the farmer, the merchant, the manu-
facturer and the banker, and above all
else, the woman of the country districts
ought to be incessant workers for the
building of good roads. Let us not leave
unto future generations that which we
should do today.
| It should be borne in mind that good
roads are not luxury, but a necessity,
and that the cost of their building is not
extravagence, but simply wise invest
ment. 1t may probably be stated with
out contradiction that the cost of the
building of any good road anywhere
in this country will bring about an in
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