St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-03-26
81 Vacsneanu farmer
saturday, March 26, 1910.
Eas A BOND ISSUE THE SOLUTION.


1.-TWO important things to be considered in
e'ie progress of our parish are good roads
ana agricultural development. They are
important not alone for their immediate eff
.ece upon prosperity, but because of their
incioental influence in population and educa-
Mon: lntelligently considered, this will be
aonuteed by everyone. The recent good
roao work accomplished in this parish bears
evidence OF the benefit to be derived, and
the further we advance in this respect the
more apparent it becomes that money thus
expended will bring profitable returns. The
roads OF the parish to-day so far exceed any
Inlng we have heretofore had as to elicit
favorable comment from visitors, and the
oDJectlon that owners of automobiles and fine
teams have no opportunity to enjoy riding is
70 some extent overcome. But we believe
the present provision for working the roads
cannot bring the best results and will take
years to give an up-to-date system through
out the parish, for aside from other defects
the amount available will never be sufficient
to keep roads in repair and at the same time
extend them in completed condition to meet
the requirements of farmers at distance
from towns and railway stations who pay
taxes for road purposes and have right to
demand such improvement as will enable
them to reach markets or shipping points
with fairly loaded wagons
We believe bond issue in an amount suf-
ficent to complete the entire road system
to be the best method Of acquiring good
roads, and if the parish cannot do this with
out special act Of the legislature, then to
have the act passed. It is preferable to have
this work done by home labor, but we be-
ieve the present system Of apportioning the
fund to each ward could be improved upon
by the appointment of special committee
accountable to the whole body and subject
to instruction or removal, and which should
report at each meeting. Whatever plan
may be adopted for the expenditure of the
money, there is no doubt that good roads are
Of paramount Importance, and the earlier
we have them the better.
Following up this plan, with good roads
for the use of the farmers, with increased
postal facilities, it would be up to the rail-
roads to take an interest in the development
Of the trucking industry. Railroads in other
sections are doing this with great profit to
themselves and benefit to the country
through which they pass. The Oregon Short
Line will probably double the apple crop
along its line this year. 1t is running spe-
cial train carrying agricultural and hortl-
cultural experts Of national reputation, who
are giving scientific instruction to the farm
ers of Utah and Idaho, and the company is
offering prizes amounting to $500 to en-
courage the growing Of Irish potatoes. Ii
the railroads of this section would take such
an interest in agriculture, and the people
would build good roads throughout the par
ish. the question Of prosperity for farmers,
towns and railroads would be solved
It is important that we should build good
roads in order that we may receive our share
Of the benefits to be derived from the Pan
anna exposition, which it now seems beyond
doubt will be held in New Orleans in 1915.
If we have these roads then, thousands OF
people will ride through every part of our
parish and we will be advertised for what
we are. It rests with us whether we shall
take advantage of opportunities The i'm
provement that could be made by issuing
long time bonds would so increase popula-
tion and value of property, with the aid OF
development on completion of Panama Canal,
that navment could be met without serious
inconvenience.
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