Newark post., 1911-12-13
UNUSUAL ACTIVITY DIS
PLAYED BY STATE GRANGE

A general parcels post law. and
the day of its coming is surely not
distant. is expected to bring the
people OF the country and those Of
the city into closer business rela-
ton to the great advantage of
both.
THE boulevard which General
7. Coleman du POnt is now con
structing and which. upon compile
ton. is to be presented to the State
will be accessible to large part of
the people and must be of great ad-
vantage and greatly advance real
estate values along it's course. 1t
will be in itself magnificent gift.
and its construction. being in
charge Of expert road engineers.
should be Of inestimable value as
an object lesson in developing a
suitable working plan for perma-
nent road building by the coun-
ties. The question of improved
roads is one of great Importance
to farmers. 1t is also one of much
Importance to the city consumers
of farm products. inasmuch as
good roads reduce the cost of
transportation and eventually the
+ cost Of living to the city consumer
Of farm products.
! 1t is well known how prices on
farm lands have advanced as the
distance to markets are reduced.
Good roads make lands distant as
accessible to market as lands much
nearer with unimproved roads.
and this applies with greater ad-
vantage to good roads where au-
tOmObiles or automobile trucks are
used. Farmers. who bear the
greater part of the taxation with
which roads are to be improved.
are interested in them primarily
for business purposes. for profit.
The roads most useful are those
that lead to his markets. We have
illustrations Of the mutual bene-
fits to the town and the surround
ing farm lands where road i'm
provement has started at the mar
ket centers and have been cOntin-
ued on roads radiating therefrOm.
Every farm has its market place.
and by this method every farm is
benefited.
Legislation is becoming more
and more liberal toward agricult-
ure. 1t would be difficult to justi-
ty the expenditures Of money for
agricultural purposes. except that
these expenditures are intended to
make for the welfare Of the whole
people. Increased products must
be provided for our rapidly in
creasing population.
Cheap and abundant food has
not proved to be the only condi-
ton for prosperity. Not long ago
our country produced corn to burn
and potatoes found insufficient
market at ID cents a bushel. yet
these were hard times not only for
farmers. but for working men as
well. There need be no fear that
young people will not remain on
the farm and that the "back-to-
the-farm movement will not be
real, when conditions are such that |
life on the farm is sure of more at |
traction and remuneration than
life in the city. and our farms will
respond to the needs Of the people
for food. /
"But let it be known that a
practical and scientific knowledge !
of farming is to be one Of the .
necessary assets for future sue
cesses on the farm. Let those who .
feel called upon to enter this pro-
fession seek ever opportunity for
the amplest equipment. And in
this connection | desire to call at
tention to the opportunities af-
forded by the short course of ag-
riculture to be given in January
at Delaware College.
"Other matters Of legislation
may be presented by reports Of
committees or by resolutions. |
am impressed. however, that the
time has come when. because Of it's
numerical strength and character
and intelligence of its members,
the grange should in non-parti- !
san way, use it's influence more in
public affairs and that it's commit
tee on legislation should be
charged not only with the duty Of
presenting to the Legislature the .
questions passed upon by this
body. but that this committee, in
conjunction with the executive
committee, should be charged with
the duty of representing the State