The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-07-23
c. Jefferson Davis, Organiz-
er of Travelling Mems Good
Roads Association, Tells of
the Movement.
NATIONAL ROAD is
ASSET TO COUNTRY
But Towns 1t Runs Through
Little Realize that the Old
Road Was Biggest Benefit
They Had.
BY c. JEFF DAVIS.

BY G. JEFF DAVIS.
There are 2,15l,570 miles Of public
roads in the United States.
Seven per cent of these are in good
condition. The Department of Agri-
culture reports that it costs annually
about 25O,0OO,0OO more to market
the products OF this country than it
would II the roads were in good shape.
II is worth from $1,000 to $4,000
each year to every farmer to have a
good road over which to haul his pro-
ducts. The farmer is the main victim
and worst sufferer of bad roads, and
strange the hardest man to convert.
But have noticed that the farmers
when going to the county seat always
pick good roads and steer clear of
those that are in bad condition.
A Train Conversation.
Some time ago while aboard train
] was startled by loud voice cussing
and damning the railroad, and he ad-
dressed his remarks to me. Said he:
"This Is a fne road to travel on. I'd
much prefer riding n goat. It's bump
de-bump. a pull and jerk and the
road is in such bad fix that you
know not a comfortable minute en-
route. They dare not go five miles an
hour for fear they will knock off the
spider webs that decorate the ancient
parts of this 'wash-tub express" and
he let out a yell and 81 varieties Of
Oaths.
"My dear sir" said I, 1T is useless
to kick. 1t is their road and they are
going to do as they please" and think
ing of cooling his temper I remarked:
"these county roads are in stagnant
condition." and pointed out the win
dow. but he sat there twitching his
eyebrows. He was as silent as a clam.
] looked him over with surprise and
asked, "Aant you a good road advo-
cate?"
"A what" said he.
do you believe in having good
roads to haul produce over. to drive
over by buggy. wagon and auto?"
"Oh H no" he hurriedly replied.
"Don't worry my head about them"
The Usual Thing.
So there you area man kicking
about roads he don't own and neglect
ing roads he does own.
Bad roads are a ware and tare on
harness and vehicles.
Bad roads. especially deep neglected
mud roads, are OF great discomfort
and extreme torture to a horse or
mule. 1t is figured that their hoofs are
pulled out of this deep mud about
5000 times a mile. Our first duty in
life Is fair treatment of dumb animals
for 1t was their aid in the pioneer
days that helped us gain that which
We now enjoy. a prosperous country.
It's the horse that makes it possible
to drive out from the inland towns
with no railroad service, or other
means of travel, into towns near and
far off. where the visits to friends and
relatives prove a pleasure much appre-
ciated.
want to say to this little business
man, especially those in county seats,
that II Is minutes day was spent in
landing one new good road advocate,
his business would prosper quickly
and his worries cease. AS ! stated in
regard to the farmer-he picks the
best road to the county seat, the good
roads leading to your town is an in
centive to the farmer to come to your
town and scatter the seeds of dollars
and cents. Good roads mean good
times. a good road leads to prosper
ity. Good roads change village into
a town. then city.
A Richmond Example.
For example Richmond. Here is
your town on theold National road
that old road was the cause of your
quick advancement and today Rich
mond looms up with all her grandeur
and opportunities for greater efforts.
Every town on the Old National
Road from Cumberland. Maryland. to
St Louis, Missouri, are prosperous,
large towns. Wheeling, w. Va. Colum-
bus, Ohio. Indianapolis. Terre Haute.
Indiana, and st. Louis, Mo, and yet
these very towns that were made
prosperous forget the cause of their
existence and allow their road to de-
cay in a condition almost undescriba.
bic. l allude to the strip between
Terre Haute and Brazil where the