Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1909-07-09
PREACHING THE GOSPEL OF GOOD
ROADS.
From the Manufacturers Record.f

which there is TO be Il revolution
nightly affecting social conditions
and educational and religious adj
vancement, period in which the
loneliness of farm life is to banlshcd
by the closer intercommunicatlon
between the people of the agricul-
tural districts with each other and
with adjacent towns and cities. BAD
roads have meant more than simp-
" an enormous loss, wastage OF
time and effort in getting the pro-
ducts of the farm to market and the
merchandise which the farmer buys
from the depot back TO the country
place. The aggregate cost OF bad
roads runs into the hundreds OF
millions of dollars annually, and
the farmers and the people away
from the centers of population are
the ones who have 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 Observation-Disclosures en-
CINE has started revolution equal
ly as important, equally as FAR
reaching in its effect, as that OF the
locomotive, which for the last three
quarters of a century has been the
greatest material power i'll human
advancement. The internal-combus-
ton engine makes possible the les
SEEMING of the 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 farm and in con-
nection 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 necessitate a very broad and
rapid building of good roads, for
the automobile in its present uses
for pleasure 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 haul
ing in this way rather than by 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 Observation-Disclosures en-
CINE, the benefit of the motor boat
and the motor car, 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 pc
Rod upon which we have entered.
The man who is working for the
building of good roads is directly
working for the bctterment of man.
kind. He is working for the adj
vancemcnt of education and relig-
ion and for all that makes for 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 inn
passable that they cannot be at
tended? OF what value To the grow
er are the products of farms which |
can only reach the market at cost |
of transportation by wagon which
eliminates 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
from friends by reason
Of had roads, it is not to be Won
lered mt that the people of the agri-
cultural districts, young and old,
crowd the cities in order to get to
| place where modern conveniences
md modern comforts of daily travel
ire available. The construction of
,ood roads viii change this. 1t will
Increase the prosperity of the farm
rs. 1t will be the most powerful
actor i'm stemming the movement A.,
( population toward the city and i
laking the country boy and girl J
Apply at home. The gospel of good c
,ads ouobt to Inc nreached with the I