Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1909-1915, 1911-12-15
GOOD 70 A . S

the good roads question is paramount,
for the reason that the 1884 rural
carriers employed are daily travelling
more than one million miles of
roads. 1t is, therefore, essential that
the roads be maintained in good con-
dition for travel in order to :insureun-
interrupted and expeditions delivery
and collection of mail on rural routes
on an even and dependable schedule.
In the maintenance of the service
many millions of dollars are spent
each year, and the Post Office Depart
ment expects its henefciaries to see
that the highways are maintained in
years ago the Department adopted
the policy of insisting that the roads
on which rural delivery is in opera
tom shall be kept in good repair, or
else to Withdraw service therefrom;
and also to cooperate with state
highway commissions, good roads as
others interested, in securing the i'm
| provement of highways, and to en-
courage postmasters and rural car
riers to do likewise. The Depart
ment very mucn desires that every
postmaster, rural carrier and substi-
tute carrier shall not only constitute
himself an apostle Of good roads and
spread the propaganda, but that they
| shall by their works arouse interest
and emulation in others.
While these Improvements have re-
| bounded to the greatest benefits to
| the rural delivery service, the direct
and indirect material benefit to the
farmers and other rural residents
| have been incal"ulable Strange as 1t
may seem, farmers do not fully appre-
ciate the value of good roads to them
selves in that it enables them to get
their produce to market at any time
during any season of the year, with
ease and facility and with a minimum
of wear and tear on their animals and
wagons. When the roads are poor,
farmers are unable to take advantage
of the best market prices, but can
only do their hauling during the dry
season or when the roads are dried
out. The saving in the cost of horses
where the roads are improved is enor-
nous, for there can be no doubt that
good roads prolong the usefulness of
horses at least one-third. Then again,
of thrift, but they certainly enhance
farm values and encourage and pro-
mote rural school intercourse and in
terests.
The fact that but comparatively
few of the counties throughout the
country are financially able to under
take the building of the highest class
of macadam roads is appreciated,
but this should neither discourage
nor deter them in their efforts to
procure good roads. 1t has been fully
demonstrated that the best of earth
and clay roads may be had through
the use of the split-log-drag and other
implements for grading ana ditching
roads. Instructions and advice on
road building or materials are to be
had upon application to the Depart
ment of Agriculture, Bureau of Pub
lie Roads, Washington, D. c., and
skilled highway engineers are detail
ed by the Department or Agriculture
under O. tain conditions to furnish
racti: a! demonstrations in road
uilding. Besides. the various state
highway commissions and boards are
j! ready and willing to lend their
id. TO my mind there is little if
oxcnco in the majority Of cases
'oT the existence or bad roads,
Prior to the introduction Of rural
rural sections Of the country were
required to go or send to the post
office to receive and dispatch their
mail, in many instances travelling
many miles. This neeessitated the
abandonment of their work and the
withdrawal of a team of horses from
service on an average of at least
three times week.
The rural mails, whereby practical
ly all the facilities of the postal SER