The gold leaf., 1909-07-08

very Ihr-feacnfnr III It's erect. We
are entering upon period in which
there is to be a revolution nightly
affecting social conditions and edu-
cational and religious advancement.
n period in which the loneliness of
farm life is 70 be banished by the
closer intercommunication between
the people of the agricultural districts
with each other and with adjacent
towns and cities. Bad roads have
meant more than simply an enor-
nous loss, n wastage of time and
effort in getting the products of the
farm to market and the merchandise
which the farmer buys from the de-
pot back to the country place. The
aggregate cost of bad roads runs
into the hundreds of millions of dol
lars annually. and the farmers and
people away from the centers of pop
ulation 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 civilization has entered. We
have come upon time when the gas
or internal combustion engine has
started revolution equally as far
reaching in its effect. as that OF the
locomotive, which for the last three
quarters of century has been the
greatest material power in human
advancement. The internal-combus-
tion engine makes possible the lessen
ing of work on the farm. 1t 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. 1t
makes possible the motor boat,
which is found on every river of the
land. The development of this great
engine for human progress will ne
cessitate very broad and rapid
building OF good roads, for the auto
mobile in it's present uses for pleas
ure is but the forerunner of the auto
truck, which soon will be found in
use throughout the country wherever
good roads and good streets make
feasible the hauling in this way rath-
er than by the slow and costly wagon
of the present.
When one begins seriously to con-
template the changes which are be-
ing brought on us by the develop
ment of the internal-cOmbustion ell
gine, the benefit of the motor boat
and the motor ear. the small farm
engine, the facility of travel which
these things and good roads will
bring about, the Imagination is apt
to almost stagger us with the limit
less possible advancement of the per
iOd upOn which we have entered The
man who is working for the building
of good roads is directly working for
the betterment OF mankind. He is
working for the advancement OF ed
cation and religion and for all that
makes the highest civilization. OF
what use are schools and churches in
country districts if for five or six
months OF the year country roads
are SO impossible that they cannot
be attended? OF what value to the
grower are the products of farms
which can only reach the market ut
a cost of transportation by wagon
which eliminates all profit? The
charm of country, the beauty Of ma
ture are pictured as reasons why
farm life should appeal to the peo-
pie, but when farm life means druid
gerry and separations from friends
by reason of bad roads, it is not
to be wondered at that the peo
pie OF the agricultural districts,
young and old, crowd the cities
in order to get IL place where mod
ern conveniences are available
| The construction of good roads will
change this 1t will add Thousand
fold to the charms Of country life. 1t
will be the most powerful factor in
stemming the movement of popula-
tion toward 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 manufacturer and
the banker, and above all elses the
women 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.
The South. which has fingered 30
far in the rear in this work, should
take it up with greater energy than
any other section, and in this way
overcome the deficiencies Of the past
and take the lead in the construction
of goods roads. 1t should be borne
in mind that good roads are not
. luxury only, bnt II necessity, and
that the cost of their building is not
extravaganza, but simply ii wise in
vestment. 1t may probably he sta
ted without contradiction that the
cost OF the building of any good road
anywhere in this country will bring
| about an increase in the value oil
adjacent property, and this increased
value will be based on increased earn
ing possibilities, greater than the to-
tai cost OF the construction OF the
road. In view OF this fact no town.
no community, is too poor TO build
| good streets and good roads. Tor
| spending money for such purpose
| if wisely spent, is the making OF an
investment that Immediately is re-
| paid to the community by the en-
] b,n.oynapt in yaIue of proDarty and