The Democratic advocate., 1909-08-13
BAD ROADS ARE COSTLY
WHAT IMPROVED HIGHWAYS WOULD
MEAN TO CARROLL COUNTY
Address Of Guy v. Steele at Granger'S
Picnic, TaneytOWn

I steele delivered at the GrangeFs' pic-
mic. Taneytown, Wednesday, August
/ 1E
Mr. Chairman. Ladies and Gentle
men: A difficult case some ten years
{ ago compelled me to study thorough
4 " the highway legislation in Mary
/ land, In order TO be able TO properly
/ protect my clients interest. To show
the impracticabillty OF the location
I Of the proposed road was forced to
I investigate the effect OF low places
and steep grades from a scientific
standpoint upon the durability OF a
I road Though my case was over how
ever. before I completed my research,
and the proposed road did not go
I through the almshruse farm, yet the
/ interest then aroused in the construc-
tion Of highways did not cease and
! have continued 10 read with avidity
and discuss with pleasure any ques-
ton realtipg to good roads. ! then
became and am sull firmly convinced
that good roads mean more highly
cultivated farms, more prosperous
4 farmers, more happy homes To OBJ
tain such a result should be the aim
Z oi all men, irrespective Of their dwell
Ing place. profession or calling. for
whatever aids the producers of our
I country. those who tlIl the soil and
feed the multitude. will increase the
nations wealth ana result In un-
( told benefits and advantages to all
the people and right In this con
nection let me say that l do not wish
20 De considered or the remarks /
make 10 BE- viewed. In the light OF
one who is selfish advocate, one
hF. ta tfsF. L..
because he IA connected with farm
crs. because ia stahGinE for the inn
provement OF our highways / con-
scienuousiy believe that ! am sup
porting cause whose benefits and
advantages will bo 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
Il 20 them more chGapiy " their
saving. Hence I believe that good
roads will benefit not only those who
use. them but those whom they serve.
and the city will be served donbly
BY them. for they viii bring TO II not
only what they consume, but will also
enable them To sell 10 you what they
manufacture lie ~ narrow
minded individual and has looked at
the question 10 most superficial
manner who for a moment would say
that the Improvement of our high
ways was a question In which the
former WAS alone Interested. as he is
alone 10 be benefited. The man In
the city Is vitality interested You
can live without roads. but without
means for sou 10 reach him with
your food the man In the city viii
die.
But | do not intend to talk today
about the advantages OF good roads
10 the city. for this ls rural audi
auce. neither do intend TO devote
my time entirely 10 Getting forth the
advantages Of good roads to a farm
or. for Il ia surely unnecessary You
who have driven In winter through
mud hub deep, and In summer
through dust foot deep. know they
are q good thing and much to be
desired. Desiring them. you would
have them II II was not for one
thing, their cost You look on them
aa a luxury and do not think you
can AFFORD 10 pay the price. This
Is not true, they are not O luxury
More nearly do they approach a me-
Cesslty. for the difference between
good roads and bad roads is frequent
.ly the difference between profit and
loss And 80 In the time I have al
lowed mel have decided 20 talk about
the economic benefits OF good roads
from practical standpoint
A Means Of Intercourse.
Some one has said that nations
civilization can be measured by It's
! L.
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, II is cor
rect II 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 material benefit
Man Is naturally a social animal. God
In the beginning saw that II was not
we'll for him TO be alone, and this
. characteristic has drawn US together
from the small clans with their chief
: tains stronghold to nations with our
large cities. Place the advantages
OF the city. the advantages II has been
; able 10 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 mean
, staying at home and seeing no one,
: and we'll be more contented. You
I 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. Think
! of being able to go to town without
! difficulty no matter what conditions
of weather prevail. But you say,
though this is pleasant, yet ! don't
think the Joy is worth the price.
. Where and how will | save money
+, from good roads; show me where /
! get any return for the money | win
: have invested. not in fun, but in
good, hard, cold cash
[ This question Is one that cannot
I be answered with mathematical cor
rectness, but 1t is one to which logi-
I cal reply can be given. BY process
: OF reasoning one can eliminate some
| OF the expenses OF bad roads. and that
I will give us fair idea of the saving
D of good ones. Though this Is not alb
: solutely satisfactory, It is sufficiently
accurate to demonstrate that to de-
< lay longer In having them is expen-
] sive and bad business policy There
ore numerous items of expense that
we now have which good roads will
y either eliminate or greatly curtail,
chief among which areS wear and