The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-03-20
State Roads and the Unemployed
BY ELLA WHEELER WILCOX
Britain Rights Reserved3

A smooth. broad highway. winding
along past green fields and over noun
3 tain sides and through city blocks. al
ways stirs mo with a keen pleasure
akin to that produced by a fair sun
set a cleaning statue or the music
OF an orchestra.
Long ago, when I was q little girl
lived In country place in Wiscon-
sin, ten miles from a city street The
roads over which we drove. about my
home. were rough and muddy, or dusty
and unkempt. and always there dwelt
in my childish heart sense of dissat-
isfaction: feeling that the condi-
tile real. not the best, not the right
conditions The unknown grass the
broken fences, the rough and ragged
roads. made me lonely, for something
better something more pleasing and
tatrer to see.
intervals drove into town" AS we
approached the little city there were
better fences about the fields: there
were broader highways, and by and by
there were real roads--roads that were
shaped. and hewn. and slnoothed. aud
By lawns where thhe grass was cut
and something stirred in me that was
pleasure keen as pain. And life seemed
different thing. Always since then
abroad highway, a good road. has been
associated in my mind with the beau
tiful. cultured. sweet side oflife; some
thing that leads away from the COM
monplacc, and the ugly. and the in
artistic.
Good roads meant to my childish
tired horses, straining heavy loads
over bad highways and through deep
eullies and up steep hills.
Good roads mean comfort to hui
manly: they mean socia ability: they
mean pleasure for men and animals.
planting Of great trees seem to me
religious duties for humanity.
Long ago a man named Cyrus Field
dreamed a beautiful dream about an
ocean cable: and, he was the object Of
sensible clear headed" friends;
later he became subject OF ridicule.
and for thirteen years he was consid-
cred moro or less innsane on the sub
tect of his hobby"
But finally the world came to rec
oSnize him as a genius and a bcnefac-
tor of the human race.
He had made his dream come true,
IN New York State there is a. mar
OF beauty and benefit for the human
race, and he has tried TO make thes
dreams come true: but people have no
believed In him enough to help the re
a Z. u Il 81
lust now his sdream.sis Very pract
cal and very great. and very wonder
ful: and 1t isGto be hoped That TINA
come true while you and live to rea
some OF its benefits.
The namo Of this man Is Albel
Owen. and the name Of his dream
State Auto HIGHWAYS
The idea is to have the States bull
great chain Of splendid roads 70
motor cars, carriages and pedestrians
which Will link the whole Unite,
States together eventually and maxi
us all near neighbors.''
employed man. and give air and sur
and the touch OF mother earth to al
Gods starving poor, and create parks
and gardens and country homes fol
thousands OF people.
Mr.. Owens says:
TT is not employment: 1t Is rather
Wholesome occupation for the public
veal that is necessary to give the spark
or the electric touch to ones brain
that is to send the new life-glving cur
rent to all parts.to of ones body. 1t is
to feel that the~viSiorh-is to be realized
that IS uppettnost in every sane mind
that the wish Is TO be gratfed. that
every one has to possess beautiful
home. amidst green fields, varied
flowers and congcnial shades-this
Is what we, as a people, must have tc
give us the brain impetus thit is nee
cssary to bring about the industrial