The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1911-05-05

Church, heister5toWl.
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Good Roads AdTocate Angered Neigh
bors by Pointed Signs.
Kansas City, Mo.-That the good
roads movement is taking hold OF the
public of Missouri even in the coun-
ties which have been backward in the
building of highways, Is evident from
the peculiar signboards which may be-
seen by the passersby on O. half mile
OF public road which passes through
the farm Of Henry Taylor, near Caddo,
Webster county.
Taylor has long been an ardent
advocate of better roads in the Ozark
counties. He has talked good roads:
ne has written gocd roads; he has ever
demonstrated what could be done in
the way of making fine roadways in
the Ozarks by working that part of
the public thoroughfare which lies a
long his own land 50 that there il no
better half mile IN the State.
But all Taylor's efforts to interest
his nieghbors seemed vain. The
farmers would listen respectfully to
their neighbor as they sat on their
line fences. They would even agree
that Taylor's road was an exceptionally
good one, and VOW that "just as soon
as I get my corn laid by I'm dinged if
I don't get out that strip Of mine and
| fix her up like a street. But when
their corn was laid by their wheat
had to be cut, and when their wheat
was cut their hay had to be put up
and when that was done something
else needed their attention.
The result was that Taylor became
tired Of talking and writing and
preaching good roads, and sought
some other means or arousing the
latent road working energies Of his
neighbors. He conceived the idea of
making some signboards which would
call the attention Of travellers to his
own good roads and OF the rough mud
dyyuncared for roads of his neighbors
SO one morning early travellers on the
road along which Gen. Lyon and his
brave soldiers marched to the battle
of Wilson Greek were surprised to
see hugh boards at intervals along the
highway. The two that attracted the
most attention were a quarter of
mile apart. One Of these was placed
on Taylor's road at the juncture BE-
tween the good road and q quarter OF
mile Of bad road, SO muddy in wet
weather that load can hardly be
hauled over It and 50 rough III dry
weather that it is anything but
pleasure to ride over it.
The other board was placed at the
other end OF Miles road.
Taylors unique method Of getting
better roads seems likely to bring
good results, although it has made
several enemies for the originator and
i - %h0 rha
of blood. The night following the
appearance of the boards Taylor's
neighbors tore them down
The believer in good roads prepared
another set Of signs similar to the
first and put them up as soon as he
learned the first were down. 1t was
his daily task for several mornings to
replace the signs which were torn
away during the night. TO save lum-
ber and paint Taylor has now taken
to remove the signs himself at night
and replace them the next morning.
No one has bothered them in the day
time. Before he adopted this course,
| however, Taylor decided to find out
who was taking down the signs, so he
lay ID wait near one Of them one night
and caught a neighbor in the act
\ There were hot words followed by
blows, and both farmers wore marks
of the encounter for several days.
Since Taylor's active measures i'm
pressing upon the minds Of the people
the necessity Of good roads several
other farmers have begun working
the roads along their farms 1t f. by
the persistent use of the drag and
frequent use OF the turning plough
that Taylor has built his part OF the
highway. He began two years ago to
drag the road after each rain. He
ploughed out the side bitches and
gradually worked this dirt into the
middle Of the road with the drag. TIE
now has good road grade, with side
bitches to drain the bed. He keeps
AT weeds and brush cut.
he has averaged, he said, not more
than fifteen minutes a day since he
began building the road from the
undrained condition in which it was
before he decided to have good roads
through his farm He has gained
many times the cost of his efforts
| by being able to haul any load over It
i'm any season. The road is always
solid, snd the pleasure he gets from
travelling it more than compensates
him for the time he has put In Oh
IL. IL udS St 4HlpTLFSQH ll6 dpp6dI-
ance or his farm that he has been
offered twice the amount OF the place
that he asked I've years ago, but he
now refuses to sell, still having faith
that the other farmers will soon take
up the work and have good highway
all the way tO market.
4 Concerning his trouble with some OF
the neigh hborsyM Mr.. Taylor philosophical,
II hate. to make enc mes of amy one,
but II r can only get good roads i
guess TIL have plenty OF goodfriends
to make life worth the Lying"
Taylor believes that most Of the
country roads in the Ozarks could be
put in excellent condition by. the use
OF the drag. Some on the winding
mountain roads will have. To be
Strengthened and graded down before
the drag can be used. aH
Methodist Episcopal Church