The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1911-08-10

prise, whether it be agricultural. man. |
ufacturing or mining. All are more OF |
less dependent on the common high
ways as an avenue OF the commercial
transportation. and in proportion as
these highways are improved SO as tO
facilitate transportation are they l,ene-
dted thereby. These benefits have
been carefully computed and estimated
in dollars and cents. and so enormous
have they been thus demonstrated to
he that they present a convincing ar
gument to any thinking man of the
| Importance and necessity for road I'm
prOvement.
| but there are other elements of ad
| vantage which more urgently recon-
| mend the Improvement of our roads.
| advantages which deserve far more
serious consideration than any finan,
cial advantages which we may gain
and which cannot be measured accord
ing to any monetary standard. hut
must be looked for in the elevation OF
our citizenship and the moral and III
tellectual advancement of our people.
Most of our cities and towns have
good streets and driveways. which IA
cilitate business and recreation. The
people live close together. and social
and friendly intercourse Is easy. The
schools and churches are within easy
reach Of all. So our urban population
has ample facilities for business. for
recreation, for social intercourse ana
for attendance upon church and school.
s st is different however. with the
two thirds of our people who are en-
gagged in agricultural pursuits aud hSe
AWAY from the centers Of business and
population. They have not the paved
streets and good roads OF the cities
and towns. They live apart from eacn
other and have no roads such as aHord
casy and convenient means OF trans
acting business. of social intercourse
and regular attendance upon churcn
and school, To them will noW the
mn ximum of benefits from improved
roads. Improved roads will bring them
in closer touch with the centers OF
progress. 1t will give them enlarged
IDEAS and assist them to adopt ths
new methods which are so necessary
for them to keep pace with the iiiarci
Of progress along other lines. anu u
tbey advance so will our civilization
A. they advance so will our ent1r'
country and in equal ratio.
"Good roads would revolutionize ou
country schools Contrast the lot Q
the country child on his way to schoe
IN winter with that Of the city cnil
with only few blocks Of paved street
:. 10 walk. Our country child. wit
satchel over shoulders and lunch ba'
= ket in hand. must leave the cheerr'
4 fireside of home from half an hour
an hour before school opens in ordt
~ TO he there OH time. The roads are w
m and muddy many months Of the yea
i. The country Is open and the co.
so winds are unmerciful I'm their attaci
nj upon him So that by the time
es reaches the schoOlhOuSe. which Is
n. ten unscientifcahy ventilated al
poorly heated. his feet are 80 cold Al
d. his body SO chilled that he Is unnt I
H. study or recitation most Of the da
IS and the exposure and chilling Of Z
n, body invite pneumonia and other q
lis cases.
,es .srhese conditions cause broken Al
We irregular attendance. They create
m aversion in the child for the S'ho
co room instead of pride IN puncts
attendance and studious advanceme
Du- Not only this. hut mother hates
ra- see her children trot of to school t
er- or three miles away in cold. b
weather, She fears that the injurts