Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-07-14
A BOND ISSUE
FOR GOOD ROADS

Probably the greatest question to
come before the next Legislature will
be that of giving the people of this
State the privilege of voting for or
against the $50, 900, 900 bond issue for
highway improvement. OF course, the
citizens can't vote on it even after
this session passes it, as the Constitu-
tion provides that two successive Leg
islatures must pass any amendment be-
fore it finally goes to the people and
the bond issue involves a constitution
al amendment. If the question could
be submitted to the citizens of Penn.
sylvania today there is no doubt that
they would overwhelmingly vote for
its adoption. We have seen but one
publication that has raised it's voice
against it and that publication is de-
manding the referendum, that the peo.
pie have the right to vote on all ques-
tions, etc. That is exactly what we
are demanding on the bond issue-that
the Legislature, in due constitutional
form, give the citizens chance to
vote on this question. No citizen of
the rural disticts of this State will be
doing his duty to himself and his
family unless hesinsists on an expires
sion on this great issue from the men
who want his vote for the Legislat-
ure.
The bond issue will mean good
roads in every section of the State,
built and maintained by the State-the
main roads. And it will mean that the
money your township is now expend-
ing on them can be used to improve
your local roads. This will make east
er hauling, more attractive social life,
help your churches and fraternal So
cieties, enhance the value of your real
estate make it possible for medical
assistance to reach you and your loved
ones in time of an emergency, possi-
bly, saving a life that is near and dear
to you. In many sections of the State
the residents of cities will be attract
ed to build summer homes or summer
boarders may be proftably entertain
ed. Touring automobilists, who as a
rule are a liberal and desirable class,
will be attracted and the millions now
spent annually by these persons in
Europe or in New England would be
largely spent in the Keystone State.
We lack nothing in the grandeur of
our scenery, the health and desirabiliy
of our climate and the Hospitality of
our people-only the roads, which
make these inaccessible to those out
side of very narrow limits. At re-
cent good roads meeting of the farm
ers of the Pocono regions the writer
inquired whether the audience were
farmers OF boarding house keepers. The
reply was that they were formerly
farmers who kept boarders ION the
side," but that now they are boarding
house keepers who "farmed on the
side" There are many sections in this
State equally as attractive and some
more so than the Pocono regions.
While many advantages would un-
doubtedly result from good roads, the
most important from our viewpoint is
that life on the farm would become
more attractive and the young, ener-
getic men who are now turning away
from it in disgust would remain and
put new life and new ideas into it,
making several bushels of grain grow
where one is now produced. No per.
son can do his or her best under con-
ditions that are perpetually discourag-
ing. Social intercourse and pleasure
are just as essential as our meals; it
is the recess of our school days and
we are all grown up school children,
after all.