The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-07-05

| asses In one SchOl so that the COM
munity spirit is an impossibility
among them because OF the diversity
of age and of the difference in attain.
ments, hundreds of children can
gather into this graded school, where
| class spirit and community spirit will
thrive and good teaching abound.
In the larger school there will he
the library and many of the people
of our rural districts who are long
ing for good literature will he able
TO obtain IL.
The consolidated or graded school
is dependent upon good roads. Edu-
cation and good roads are two prop
ositions that mark our advance in
| civilization. One begets the other.
Educate people and they will build
good roads. Build good roads and
the people will educate themselves.
Rural free delivery will be ex-
tended as good roads are constructed
and ii is practically dependent upon
good roads for with the construction
| 9f good roads there will be an in
crease in population and of the earn
ing capacity of the adjacent farms,
which will mean a greater amount of
mail matter to be delivered. This is
emphasized in report of the Post
master General who said; THE re-
quirement precedent TO the estab-
lishment Of rural delivery is to be a
possible patronage of 100 families on
a standard route of "A miles; that the
road be kept in good condition un-
obstructed by gates and with all
streams fordable at all seasons of the
year" Many routes have been
threatened with discontinuance if the
roads over which the rural mail car
rier had to travel were not put in
better condition. But few who have
had the benefit of rural mail delivery
want to see the routes given up and
| those who do not have rural delivery
want IL. 1t must be remembered
however that the routes will follow
good roads.
Another way in which good roads
VIII be of great value to the real es-
tate situated on or close by q mac
adam or other improved road will
be enhanced in value and in many
instances properties which could not
be sold even at a low figure have
found a market when they have been
connected with the neighboring town
| or city by hard surfaced road.
Good roads will add more to the
value Of farm property than all other
public improvements put together.
The Improvement in prices at
which lands are selling along i'm
proved roads wherever they have
been built is from to 10 times their
former value. If this Is so, or If we
are sure property will even double in
value. should we not improve our
principal highways at the earliest
possible day?
The States are interested in in
creasing the earning capacity Of farm
lands as IL means greater revenue to
the State. Railroads are also inter-
ested in the construction of good
roads in our agricultural districts
because they increase the facility by
which the farmer can keep in touch
with the rest of the world CONNER
cially.
Just word. in regard to this in
creased value of lands that are on
improved roads. The value of a
farm is dependent upon the income
that can be derived from ii, and II is
q well established fact that the farms
on improved roads can derive in
comes from IA to times as much
as farms that are isolated from good
road connections with town and mar
ket. and in a number Of instances
when the improved road has been
constructed by the farm, the farmer
has been able to raise ana market
products that 1t was absolutely i'm
possible for him to do before the
road was constructed.
Tourists, capitalists investors, and
others visiting any section Of the
south will be much more favorably
impressed with the financial possi-
bilities of any manufacturing enter
prise. or the commercial value Of any
farm or timberland by driving to
them over good roads. If these same
places have to be visited over poor
roads, they win loose more than half
of their value in the sight Of the
prospective investor, as his thoughts
have been SO entirely taken up with