Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-03-15
Good Roads In the South.

The South is thoroughly committed
to policy of connecting its principal
| centers OF population by means of
modern highways. The movement
| which was inaugurated little more
than year ago spread like wild fire
among the cities and even more rap
idly in the rural districts. Among the
latter people the farmers organiza-
tons were quick to recognize the Won
derful possibilities of a network of
trst-ciass roads and it is a fact that
almost every community in Dixie is
doing something to improve the con-
ditCn of it's highways.
The funds for this vast movement
for improved highway conditions are
being raised in the usual manner. bv
bond issue, and money is pouring into
the South from all quarters. Activity
along these lines is being reflected
also in every other line of human en-
deavor. Industries heretofore isolated
part OF the year because of the
Wretch"d travelling are now enabled
to receive their raw material and ship
the finished product at nearly all sea-
sons, When the work has been COM
pleted. The farmer is enabled to haul
his product whenever it suits his con-
venience and the travelling between
the villages and towns with all it's at
tending benefits has been increased
many fold.
The movement has reached down
through the boards of trade, village
improvement societies. farmers unions
and other organizations, to the indi-
Vldual farmers. Travellers through
the district say that it is no unusual
sight to see farmers spending their
leisure time in filling ruts, removing
stones or draining low places in the
roads adjoining their property. with
no expectation of recompense beyond
the improved highways he will have
for his own us, as the result of his
work.
Motorists travelling through the
the South have been compelled to
readjust their opinions of Southern
tours because of this universal move
menf for better highways Up to
within q year the man who vcntured
INTO the South on tour was more
likely t" do so for the purpose Of
testing the durability of his car than
TOR am other purpose One motorist
says that in cquipping himself for an
extensive Southern trip he took along
pick axe. shovel, block and tackle
ana an axe to be used in cutting down
trees in order to bridge over especially
bad places. but now he or anv othor
motcrlst can venture into that sec
non of the country with no more mis-
giving Than would be entertained were
he to start into rural New York or
New England. In fact. some of those
who are more enthusiastic in regard
to the wonderful strides that have been
made in the South say that the road
conditions in general are better than
can be found anywhere except in the
Immediate vicinity of the larger cities
in the NORTH.
New England does not beprudpe the
South the advantage she has in this
wonderful advancement. Those who
have considered the matter at all will
agree that she is entitled to whatever
advantage she may derive from it.
Vt is up to New England to do As wei,
or better. The secret of the wonder
fui success of the good road movement
IN the South is contained in that
spirit which leads the individual, farm.
er't", spend his leisure hours in i'm.
proving the roads about his own Mace
He does not count such labor lost nor
should he 1t would indeed be a good
plan II property owners in this mart
of the country strive to emulate him.