The weekly Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1911-1922, 1911-10-19
Social Life in the Country, Including
Education and Church Activities,
Needs Highways Which Will Assist
in Making 1t More Attractive
WRITTEN FOR THE NATIONAL GRANGE BY LOGAN WALLER
Pa GE,
Director Roads u Agriculture

A person rarely takes TO propo-
s;tion until he Is convinced of Its
merits. or that it will have a bene-
fetal effect on his interests. This Is
true II every line OF business and II
every phase OF life. anil it is eS-
peeialiy true when the proposition
involves the expenditure of money
or labor. The improvement q cur
public roads requires / expendi-
ture o. both T. le and la',or. II
Is plain. Il -refore. that those from
whom TIE money and labor Tor inn
proving eur roads must come must
first be convinced that it will inur
to their beneficial interests and gen
eral welfare
This has been one of the greatest
obstacles TO road improvement. After
more than ten years of active cam
paigning to emphasize the necessity
for tie work. its Importance has
not been fully realized by the
people. Some of them. In fact. many
of them. thoroughly appreciate the
vast economic and social advantages
which will result from good roads
but the majority do not. a rever-
sal Of this majority will be the great
est achievement yet attained by the
agitation for road Improvement,
and the only method whereby that
may be accomplished is through a
systematic education of Tie people
as to the benefits which will accrue
: to them.
The advantages of good roads ex-
tend to every citizen. whether he
live In city or country: and to
every enterprise, whether it be agri-
cultural. manufacturing, or mining
All are more or less dependent on
the common highways as an avenue
of the commercial transportation
and in proportion as these highways
are improved so as to facilitate
transportation are they benefited
thereby. These benefits have been
carefully computed and estimated 10
dollars and cents. and so enormous
have they been thus demonstrated to
be that they present convincing
argument to any thinking man OF
the Importance and necessity foi
road improvement.
Other Advantages.
But there are other elements OF
advantage which more urgently rec
ommend the improvement of our
roads. Advantages which deserve
far more serious consideration than
anv financial advantages which We
may cain, and which cannot be
measured according to any none
tarv standard. but must be looked
for in the elevation of our citizen
ship and the moral and intellectual
advancement of our people.
Most of our cities and towns have
GOOD streets and driveways, which
facilitate business and recreation
The people live close together, and
social and friendly intercourse il
easy. The schools and churches ART
within easy reach of all. So ou'
urban population has ample faeili
ties for business, for recreation, fol
social intercourse, and for attend
anee upon church and school.
It Is different, however, with two
thirds of our people who are engag
ed in agricultural pursuits and iv.
away from the centers of business
and population. They have not tbs
paved streets and good roads of ths
cities and towns. They live apar
from each other and have no roads
such as afford easy and convenien'
means of transacting business, o
social intercourse, and regular at
tendance npon church and school. X
them will flow the maximum OF benz
f;ts from improved roads. Imprev
ed roads will bring them In close
touch with the centers of progress
It will give them enlarged ideas
and assist them to adopt the new
methods which are so necessary fol
them to keep pace with the marci
of progress along other lines. and a
fbeV advance SO will our civilization
- thov advances so will our entir.