Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1910-09-30
Good Roads and Better Schools
CLogan Waller Page, Director Office
of Public Roads, U. S. Depart
ment of Agriculture.

us, OF IudJ II Will nave q DeHGllCidl
effect on his interests. This is true in
every line of business and in every
phase Of life, an it is especially true
when the proposition involves the ex-
penditure of money or labor. The i'm
proyement of our public roads re-
quires the expenditure of both money
and labor. 1t is plain, therefore, that
those from whom the money and lab
for improving our roads must come
must first be convinced that it will
inure to their beneficial interests and
general welfare
This has been one of the obstacles
to road improvements After more
than ten years of active campaigning
to emphasize the necessity for the
work, its Importance has not been
fully realized by the people. Some of
them, in fact, many of them, appre-
ciate the vast economic and social adj
Iyantages which will result from good
roads, but the majority do not. A re-
yersal of this majority viii be the
greatest achievement yet attained by
the agitation for road Improvement,
and the only method whereby that
may be accomplished is through a
systematic education of the people as
to the benefits which will accrue to
them.
The advantages of good roads eX-
tend to every citizen, whether he live
in city or country; and to every en-
terpuse, whether it be agricultural
manufacturing or mining. All are
more or less dependent on the com
mon highways as an avenue of
commercial transportation, and in
proportion as these highways are i'm
proved so as to facilitate transporta-
ton are they benefited thereby.
These benefits have been carefully
computed and estimated in dollars
and cents and so numerous have they
been thus demonstrated to be thar
they present convincing argument
to any thinking man of the import
ance and necessity for road improve
ment.
But there are other elements of adj
vantage which more urgently recon-
mend the Improvement Of our roads.
Advantages which deserve far more
serious consideration than any ffnan-
cial advantages which we may gain, !
and which cannot be measured &C
cording to any monetary standard,
but must be looked for in the eleya-
ton of our citizenship and the moral
and intellectual advancement of our
people
Most of our cities and towns have
good streets and highways which IA
cilitate business and recreation. The
people live close together, and social
and friendly intercourse is easy. The
schools and churches are within easy
reach of all. So our urban popula-
ton has ample facilities for business, |
for recreation, for social intercourse, |
and for attendance upon church and
school.
1t is different, however, with the |
two-thirds of our people who are en-
gagged in agricultural pursuits and
live away from the centers of bust
ness and population. They have not
the paved streets and good roads Of
the cities and towns. They live apart !
from each other and have no roads |
such as afford easy and convenient
means Of transacting business, of So |
cial intercourse, and regular attend
anCe upon church and school. To
them will flow the maximum benefits
from improved roads. Improved roads
viii bring them in closer touch with
the centers of progress. 1t will give
them enlarged ideas and assist them
to aGopt new methods, which are so
necessary for them to keep pace with
the march Of progress along ether
lines, and as they advance so will our
civilization. As they advance so will
our entire country, and in equal ratio.
Good roads would reyolutionize
our country schools. Contrast the lot
of the country child on his way to
school in the winter with that of the
city child with only a few blocks
of paved streets to walk. Our
country child, with satchel over
shoulders and lunch basket in hand,
must leave the cheerful firside of
home from half an hour to one hour
before school opens in order to be
there on time. The roads are wet and
and muddy many months of the year.
/ The country is open and cold winds
are unmerciful in their attacks upon
/ him, SO that, by the time he reaches
/ the school house, which is often un-
! scientifically ventilated and poorly
heated, his feet are so cold and his
body so badly chilled that he is I'M