The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1910-09-01
GOOD ROADS and BETTER SCHOOLS
Written f Grange by Logan Page
Office of Public Roads of Aprcuture

a person rarely takes to. a PROPOSE.
ftion until he is convinced of its, mer.
Its, or that ii win have a. beneficial eff.
fleet on his interests. This is true in
LeysFyI linz Of afI business and IN every
phase Of lifet and \ Is especially true
when the n nrfopostt for. involves the ex-
lpenditure OF money or labor. The
Improvement of our public roads re-
Equiresr the expenditure of both money
land labor. It is plain. therefore. that
Those from whom the money and labor
flor improving our roads must come
must first be convinced that it win in
lure to their beneficial interests and
general welfare. n. H..
| This has; been one of the greatest
obstacles to road Improvement, AT
tier more than ten years OF active cam
tpaignins to,.emphasize the necessity
flor the work, its Importance has not
been fully realized by the people.
lSome of them, in fact, many of them,
Thoroughly appreciate the vast eco
nomic and social advantages which
will result from good roads, but the
majority do not. A reversal of this
majority will be the greatest achieve
ment yet attained by the agitation for
road improvement, and the only meth
cd whereby that may be accomplished
is through a systematic education Of
the people as to the benefits which
viii accrue to them. s
The advantages, of good roads ex-
tend to every citizen. whether he live
in city or country; and to every en-
terprise, whether it be agricultural,
manufacturing, or mining. All are
more or less dependent on the COM
mon highways, as an avenue of the
commercial transportation, and in pro-
portion as these highways are improv-
ed so as to facilitate transportation
are they benefited thereby. These
benefits have been carefully computed
and estimated in dollars and cents,
and so enormous have they been thus
demonstrated to be that they present
convincing argument to any think
| ing man of the importance and neces-
sity for road Improvement.
But there are other elements of ad-
vantage which more urgently recon-
mend the improvement of our roads.
Advantages which deserve far more
serious consideration than any finan-
cial advantages which we may gain,
and which cannot be measured accord
| ing to any monetary standard, but
must be looked for in the elevation of
our citizenship and the moral and in
tellectual advancement of our people.
Most of our cities and towns have
good streets and driveways, 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 population
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 business 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 af-
ford easy and convenient means of
transacting business, of social inter
course, and regular attendance upon
church and school. To them will flow
the maximum of benefits from I'm
proved roads. Improved roads will
bring them in closer touch with the
centers of progress. 1t will give them
enlarged ideas and assist them to
adopt the new methods which are so
necessary for them to keep pace with
the march of progress along other
lines, and as they advance so will our
civilization. AS they advance so will
our entire country, and in equal ratio.
Good roads would revolutionize our
country schools. Contrast the lot of
the country child on his way to school
in winter with that of the city child
with only few blocks of paved streets
to walk. Our country child, with
satchel over shoulders and lunch bas-
ket in hand, must leave the cheerful
fireside of home from half an hour to
an hour before school opens in order
to be there on time. The roads are
wet and muddy many months of the
year., The country Is open and the
cold winds are unmercilul in their at.
Etacks upon him. so that, By the time
he reaches the school house, which is
often: unscientifcally ventilated and
poorly heated, his feet are SO cold and
his. body so chilled that he is unfit for
study or recitation most of the day,
and the exposure and chilling of the
body invite pneumonia and other dis.
eases. .45Es ~ y $50 ~.
These conditions cause broken and
irregular ATTENDANCE They create an
aversion in the, child for the school
room Instead Of a pride in punctual
attendance. and studious advancement.
Not only this, but mother hates TO
see her children trot OF to school two
or three miles away in cold, bad
weather. She fears. that. the luxurious
eReets upon tse body ffem.th expos
4 uie,~Rfid gfgtter bafhf than the ben.
d'efcihl teffetts dpofi the mind win do
good SHE ? fealizes that Q vigorous
mind can only dwellsein a healthy