The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-07-29
Gospel OF coon ROADS
FORClBLY EXPOUNDED

each year to ROAD duty.
The only practical methods Of con
structing public highways which have |
so far proven successful are two, the |
first after the fashion adopted by tho
Romans in Italy and the Normans in
England and the second after the man
ner adopted by such states as Massa-
chusetts, which has a great percent
age of improved roads than any 9th
err state in the union. The first two
methods being impracticable, that oil
building roads as military measure,
utilizing soldiers, only the second
method remains for the American re-
public to build a system of highways
which will be of any material benefit
to this and succeeding generations.
In Massachusetts, as well as sew
eral other eastern states, both the
convict and individual systems were
several years ago abandoned, the mat
ter being made one of state policy.
New Jersey was one of the first states
to practically apply the method of
building roads through state aid and
the experiment proved so successful
| that that state now boasts of proba-
bly, the finest road system in the
United States with the probable ex-
ception of Massachusetts.
Eastern States Woke Up.
The eastern states long ago came to
the realization that good roads en-
HANGED the values of land, decreased
the distance to school houses and
rendered the far-off rural districts
fairly desirable portions of the globe
to live in.
The merchant early realized the i'm.
portance in having the rural citizen
near the market, well knowing the
disposition of the average person to
spend money when there is anything
to spend it for, while both the farmer
and merchant Of the east early real
zed alike that there would be more
money to spend with better roads. AS
a consequence the movement met with
little resistance in the older states.
where mile after mile of fine roads
are seen today.
Railroads have recently joined the
good roads movement with the knowl-
edge chat good roads increase. ton
mage, thereby adding to dividends. Sew.
eral railroads Of the Atlantic States
are constantly sending out special
trains equipped with means of con-
structing short strips of improved road
to demonstrate how easily fine road
may be built and to further show
the superiority of a good road over
the old mud holes so common in the
early history of the republic.
During the early history of the good
roads movement in one of the eastern
states a convention of the citizens of
a county were called together for the
purpose of deciding whether or not
bonds should be issued to construct a
system of highways which would place
the farmer in touch with the city
Several arguments were advanced both
for and against such an issue. An
old gray whiskered farmer arose in
the meeting and hal the following to
say.
Mr.. Chairman, l am just a Jain
farmer and have no business trying
to talk in this meeting, l am all COW
cred with mud there is mud on my
boots ard all over my clothes, and
my hat is all spattered up, tou. l
walked to this meeting because my
horse couldn't travel the roads. I've
got little farm AMI sawmill out IN
the Poplar Corner road Just a little
over two miles from town, and. if |
could Climb up on a hacd road with
my track and what lumber I've sawed
/ could clea enough IN one day II
pay my taX on that road; but |
haven't 60: it.
Il bou5h. some groceries from YOU
Cunning % merchant, this r..nth.
yes 81 worth for l "a lied them on,
NJ my natI; hut, if had a COED :oad,
u would lty" beea $25, am sure
1t is needless 10 say the Grl.d issno
5r'1. IT,, CARED. Many instances r, Md
be cited right here in this county
CT e., oilions exactly ;imillr to 'hsse
-elof"J a' the eastern fari.er.