Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1910-11-10

prise, whether it be agricultural, man
ufacturing or mining All are more or
less dependent on the common high
ways as an avenue of the commercial
transportation. and in proportion as
these highways are improved so as to
facilitate transportation are they bene-:
fitted 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 ar
gument to any thinking man Of the
Importance and necessity for road i'm
provement.
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 fnan-
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 iIl-
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 simple facilities for business, for
recreation, for social intercourse and
for attendance upon church and school.
'It 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 afford
easy and convenient means of trans
acting business, Of social intercourse
and regular attendance upon church
and school. To them will flow the
maximum of benefits from improved
roads. Improved roads will bring them
in closer touch with the centers pf
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 marcn
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 a 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 unmerciful in their attacks
upon him. So that by the time he
reaches the schoolhouse. which is Of
ten unscientiically 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.
''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 q mother hates to
see her children trot off to school two
or three miles away In cold. bad
weather. She fears that the injurious