The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1911-09-01

simply because their highways have been In the
making for msny centuries, whereas We have
mighty few turnpkos that are more than one
hundred or at most two hundred years old. And
furthermore on top Of the youth OF our country
In road building there Ia the circumstance OF the
tremendous size OF Uncle Sans domain. No
wonder the Europeans have been able to have
good roads when half or two-thirds many poo.
pie ~ we have In this whole vast country have
been contributing their work and their taxes to
keep up the roads In a territory no larger than
one OF our medium size states
hut for all the lead given by time and the ad
vantage OF dense population II looks MS though
we would ovcrako our cousins overseas In the
matter OF the possession Of good roads. Indeed
even now In some states such as sections OF
Massachusetts there are roads as fine as any.
thing OF similar character on the other side OF
the big pond. Tho secret Of this boom In rond
building In America lies In organization ns well
as agitation nnd the country Is likely to see new
fruits from both during the middle week Of Sep
tomber when u Good Roads Week" viii be held
throughout tho United States This week OF
missionary work Is expected TO stir up good
~ share OF our people on the question Of good
roads and II Ia hoped that some OF the new con.
yerts and the old viii that week practice what
they preach TO the extent Of lending a hand 20
the building here and there Of stretchcG OF
model road" that will serve as convincing object
lessons.
Good Ronds Week" IN going to be held I'm con.
necton with the first annual convention of tho
American Association for Highway Improvement
which will be held al Richmond. Va. aud will be-
addressed by many OF the most prominent mon
In the country. This national organization will.
Of course. be much In the public eye In this con.
nection. but II is only one OF scores Of assocla.
lions great and small that have been helping In
this cause. There are state organizations and
county organizations and even township organl.
cations all over the country that have been sup
DOTtinp national nd It,uI
mcnts In what they have been doing for better
roads, and the results attained prove what cun be
accomplished vhen'a large number OF people who
are very much In earnest set out to all pull 10.
Gethor' toward desired goal
good many people who have not looked very
deeply into the subject have gained the idea that
the motorists are more largely responsible than
any other class OF people for this dnwning era OF
good roads. Now. II would not be right to dis
parage what the automObsts have done. which
has been considerable In one way or another. but
In the interest Of the truth II must be pointed
out that the one factor supreme In influence for
better roads has been the wideawake farmer. To
be sure II In fact, and mighty significant one
that the largest and most powerful corporations
In the oountry-business Interests such as our
biggest railroads and tho steel trust and the
Standard OIL oorpoption--are working energetic
ally with the new American Association for High
way Improvement because they realize that any
thing that viii help the condition OF the country
at large will help their business Al the same
time It is the farmer class that are supplying the
backbone Of this movement Just they are OF
every other big movement affecting rural cond
lions and have been from tine out OF mind.
II is just as well to admit right here too. that
the average farmer who Is going In hard for the
cause OF better roads Ia not deyotins his time and
bis labor TO the project on any fanclful sentiment
al basis. OF course, II contributes to his pride to
see his farm bounded or blsected by a splendid
road and he Ia gratihed that the good folk who
90 past his door pleasure riding should have an
easy pathway. but the great underlying Impetus
Ia found In the need OF good roads TO enable the
economically.