The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-08-04
THE GOOD ROADS MOVEMENT.

The gratifying progress shown in
the good roads movement is well set
forth in the address delivered by M.
V. Richards before the National Good
Roads Association, recently held at
Niagara Falls, N. Y, in which he said:
THE citizens of almost every dis
tributing point in the United States
have begun to realize the necessity
of good roads radiating from the
town and reaching every portion of
the county and section tributary to 1t.
The dismal days of mud and mire are
passing, and the country road is
changing into highway passable in
every season of the year. Farmers
are learning that the conservation of
time is one of the chief factors in ere
ating wealth, and that every hour lost
In hauling their products over broken
roads reduced the power of production
on the farm. We have made some
calculations which prove the truth of
| this proposition, and have secured
data from the best authorities in sup
port of it. Bad roads consume time
which is the equivalent of labor; and
the labor over mired teams and bro
ken gear is labor taken away from
the farm where it would have been
producing, and given to a task that
produces nothing-except profanity.
Professor Latta, after careful
study of conditions in a number Of
Indiana counties, has stated that the
poor roads in that section entail an
annual loss, and the good roads afford
an annual gain, of $2432 for every $40
acres of land over which traffic pass
es; and that the change from poor and
unkept roads to we'll constructed
roads adds approximately So to the
value of every acre in that district
The efforts of the advocates of
good roads have begun to, triumph
over indifference and prejudice; and
in nearly every State in the Union
there is a growing demand for them
The untiring labor and insistence OF
these good roads champions are bear
ing fruit. Many States have perman-
emit organizations, and the same is
true of counties, for the promotion OF
this great economic object-the build
ing of good roads. 1t is almost ma
tional in its scope; and the holding OF
this convention annually is one evil
dence that the people Of the whole
country who represent the agricul-
tural and manufacturing interests are
alive to the necessity of road construc-
ton. In the Southeastern States pub
lie interest was aroused ten years
ago, and has increased each year, with
new adherents added to the cause, I'M
til it is recognized and endorsed as
prime factor in the material develop
ment of the country. There were
leaders among us who from the in
ception of the idea insisted that with
out good roads our farmers could
neither advance their section nor Sc
cure the best results from their Ia
Dor; that poor roads practically null
tiplied the distance to markets ana
discouraged homeseekers who were
compelled to travel over them IN
search of farm.
"The ten years past have wrought
gratifying changes in sentiment
aroused the people to enthusiasm I'D
some sections and in others nave
created an interest that is spreading
over the face of this country IKE
todal wave. Within the last few years
ending January /, 1910, over $l2,oOo'-
600 have been expended, Judlclousiy'
in the building of public roads in the
Southern States, When we reflect
that a few years ago there was little
mr. no interest shown in the cause OF
good roads, and that today It is wide
| Nv discussed in the press. IN cohveh-
tons in commercial circles, in far.
mers' institutes, and on the FARMS
and that our books show paid Vouch.
ers for millions of dollars expended
and as appropriated for good roads, !, It
nmst he admitted that the South IS IN
earnest in its desire and purpose 10 10
construct and maintain good highwa way,
Throughout it's whole territory. FER ,n !.
snnaI knowledge OF the people OF the
South and their characteristics Jus
t,tes me in predicting that the expea-
ditures and provisions for good roaos