Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1911-06-22

know something Of the practical side
of the question, as l have had much
experience with all kinds of public
highways, both In this country and
in Europe. My experience dates
back to my early days on the farm
our yearly attempts to make some part
of the highways more impossible than
1t already was. The road was consid-
cred very useful to work out u tax
upon, and also to scour our rusty
plows. but we did not have much idea
of making them better to travel on. OF
course we always selected the good
with bitches and steep hills gave us
too much trouble and were hard On the
horses. I notice that this intelligent
method is still pursued by some OF our
road supervisors, even to this day.
There was n good feature, now
evr. Of these early efforts with the
pillow and the old-fashioned scraper-we
couldn't do very much damage. The
road grader, with which w or three
men and q half dozen horses can ruin
several miles Of road In a day or two,
had not yet arrived.
l became interested more deeply in
the road proposition when I got into
the automobile game several years ago.
] had of the first gasoline touring
cars that came to this part of h state,
and l began driving 1t at a time when
nearly every horse l met stood on his
hind legs when he saw the machine.
One Saturday afternoon I led 10 out
OF 20 teams which l met past my car,
and the other 10 snorted and SHE'D
as their drivers forced them to go by
It. Now cars have become 80 common
that I can drive a month without scar
Ing a horse-just a matter of educa-
ton of the horses, the horses are
better OFF n worth more money to
their owners for this education. Since
driven a total Of some 5000 miles;
perhaps 10000 over the dirt roads of
Iowa and about 10000 more over the
fine stone roads Of Europe. I have
driven in all kinds OF weather and un-
der all kinds Of conditions. and it
would be strange. indeed. If I had not
learned something about the roads
with which became so we'll ac-
Quainted.
I suppose before this time you
have guessed the chief reason for my
good roads enthusiasm-that I am
what they style an automobile crank,
and l may as we'll admit it. My own
business interests are not much af-
fected by road conditions, except in a
very general way, as are the interests
of the merchant and farmer. I nave had
many a man to whom I have urged the
good roads proposition say to me. 20,
we'll. If 1 used an automobile as much
as you do, I would be a booster, too"
And yet this same man might De a
merchant or farmer, and my answer
to him was usually about as follows:
Your interest in good roads is really
far more than that of the man who
runs around in an auto just for the fun
Of 1T. Good roads mean dollars and
cents to you"
What They Mean.
Good roads mean a wider range Of
trade for the business ma and steady
business the year around instead of
Just when the roads happen to be
right, but they mean still more to the
farmer who is isolated by bad road
conditions. He uses the road more than
anyone else. not for, pleasure only, but
In his business. He must use them to
get his stock and grain to market and
1t is likely to chance that when the
market is at the best and when he has
the most leisure to haul his products
the road will be at its worst. He must
use the roads il he wishes to visit his
neiglbor; in fact, but for the highway
the isolation OF country life would be
unbearable.
And, on the other hand, when road
conditions are perfect, life on the farm
presents many attractions and advan-
tages that the dweller in the city cam
not have. One may have freedom and
fresh air and plenty OF room, to say
nothing of absence in some cases Of
undesirable neighbors. The farmer of
today may have almost every advan-
tage and every convenience, at lar less
expense. that the city dweller enjoys.
A farmer with whom I am well ac-
quainted recently had a house warm
Ing in his fine new residence he had
Just finished some miles from our city.
The house is lighted by electricity. q
gasoline engine and storage battery
furnishing h current. It has its
plumbing conveniences. bath rooms
with running hot and cold water, made
possible by q pressure tank in the cell
lar. It IA heated by a modern furnace.
n has q splendidly equipped kitchen
and laundry. The house Is on q rural
route and every day farmer has
his daily paper and mail delivered at
his door. And in this connection we
might stop to note that this whole rural
ma service to the farmer is dependent
II 1t should be asked, What else
IL needed to give this farmer every
advantage enjoyed by his town friend?''
the answer would be at once, Good
roads," so that he a hitch up his
team or crank his a n 90 to his
ever he likes. He will then have brought
to his door opportunity for relaxation
and entertainment to do away with the
monotony Of farm life, and when the
market is just right he a haul smash
ing big loads of produce. getting top
markets and saving much time and
wear and tear on his team and vehicles.
And he can have his automobile. He
has a great many Of them already.
There are $4,000 cars in the state Of
Iowa. and the majority OF these are
owned by farmers. So hat q constant
~ increasing number of our farmes are