The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-08-24
GOOD ROADS DEPARTMENT
By the Good Roads League.
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The election to be held in New
. berry county on Tuesday, August 81,
on the question Of bonds for road con-
struction is Of vast Importance to the
people Of this county. 1t ought to be
decided on its merits. The people
may not be ready to adopt this method
of road building, but this is no e3-
<cuse for misrepresenting facts or
questioning the motives of those per-
sons who are in favor Of bonds.
It has been stated directly, and I'M
Piled by insinuation, that this move
ment was begun in the interest Of au-
tomobile travel. This is absolutely
false. Those who are responsible tor
this movement had not even heard OF
path finders and scout cars when they
began this agitation. There were not
a. half dozen automobiles IN the
county then, and the men who owned
them had absolutely nothing to do
with this movement in its beginning.
It has never been proposed, and 1t
is not now intended to build one foot
Of automobile road as such. 1t is un-
fortunate for the bond issue that GER
tain papers sent through this county
their so-called scout cars path finders
Just at this particular time, but that
was no excuse for any man to make
the charge that bonds were to be IS
sued in behalf of a proposed automo-
bile road. Any such charge or IN
sinuation is not only false, but IS an
attempted appeal to prejudice, and IS,
therefore, unworthy Of place IN the
discussion Of such an important mat
ter. There may be valid reasons
against bonds, but they are not to be
found in crying automobiles, path
finders. scout cars, bank schemes,
graft. and other catch words that have
been used to large extent in this dis
cussion.
By the way, there is no more truth
in the so-called bank scheme, Of which
some make 50 much, than there IS IN
the automobile scheme.
No; this movement was begun IN
the interest Of all the people Of the
entire county. It is not original with
those who began it here. Many coun-
ties have solved the road problem in
this way. The friends Of bonds IN
Newberry county are simply following
a tried and well-defned method of
getting good roads. Communications
Of various kinds from counties that
have sold bonds for roads show con-
clusively that they are more than sat-
isfed with this method, and that it is
practicable and satisfactory in the
highest degree. Those who began this
agitation here were convinced that
Newberry county could solve the road
problem in the same way. No reports
have come from counties that issued
bonds charging graft. Why should
these questions be raised here, even
before work is begun? Do we not
have as good men as in ither counties? :?
This movement, let it be repeated,
is in the interest Of the whole county.
TIE farmers, in the very nature OF the
case, will get the first and greatest
benefit, but in the long run all will be
benefited.
This movement is far-reacning. 1t
IS & movement in the intel est Of the
country schools and churches. There
is a vital connection between roads
and schools and churches in the rural
. districts. Many counties with good
Soads have consolidated their schools,
s nd now enjov the advantages Of the
$ Eerv best hig. schools, even in the
grcountry. The United States census
shows conclusively that the average
attendance upon schools in the rural
districts is controlled bv the condition
OF the roads It is also shown that
church attendance is, in large meas
are, influenced by road conditions.
Moreover, there is striking and re-
narkab!e relationship between the
condition of the roads and illiteracy
among the white people Of this coun-
try, as disclosed by the census. When
!. YOU work for good roads YOU are work
assar schools and churches, and for
T. lift Of TIE entire white popula-
movement is in the interest Of