The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1911-08-25

simply because their highways have been in the
making for many centuries. whereas We have
mighty few turnQkes that are more than one
hundred or al most TWO hundred years old And
furthermore on top OF The youth Of our country
IL road building there Is the Circumstance Of the
tremendous size q Uncle Sans domain. No
wonder the Europeans have been able 70 have
good roads when half or Jwo-thirds As many peO-
PIE as We have in this whole vast country have
been contributing their work and their taxes %
keep up the roads in territory 10 larger than
one Of our medium size states.
But for al the lead given By time and the ai-
vantage Of dense population i looks IS though
would oyertake our cousins overseas in The
matter Of the possession q good roads Indeed,
even now in some states such as sections Of
Massachusetts. there are roads Is fRe as any
thing Of similar character OF the other side o.
the big pond The secret q this boom il road
building IN America lies II organization as well
as agitation and the country Is likely 10 see new
fruits from both during he middle week OF Sep
temter when : Good Roads Week viii De held
throughout the United STATES This week OF
missionary work : expected % sir Up good
i share Of orr people OF the question OF good
roeds and II IS hoped that some o. the new COT
ye--s and Ire old wiI hat week practice what
they preach 20 The extent O: lending Z hand 20
tie building here and there O. stretches O.
model Rad r1z, wlI serve as convincing object
lessons
Good Roads Week : going 70 De held il con
rection with he 6rst annual convention OF the
American Association Tor Highway Improvement
which VII BE held Al Richmond Va. and viii BE-
addressed - many o. he most prominent uea
Il Tie COUNTY Tbs national organization vill
= course. u much il he public eye n this con
cec-ion. hu- il Is only one q scores Of associa-
t+crs grezt and small that have been helping il
Ills czuse There are state organizations and
Nd al ~
ratious al over the COUNTY thar have been sup
porting our Rational. state and municipal govern
Eelts II What they have been doing for better
roads and The results attained prove What can be
accomplished when large number OF people who
are very much in earnest SCI ou- 10 all pull 10
geJher" toward = desired goal
! good many people Who have not looked very
deeply into The subject have gained the idea that
TIE motorists are more largely responsible than
any other class OF people for this d2vning era Of
good roads Nov, il would not be right 10 dis
parage what the autonobiIists have done. which
has been considerable II one way OF another. but
Il the interest OF The truth il must be pointed
out that the one factor supreme il influence for
better roads has been the wide-aEake farmer. To
be sure it is a fact and 2 mighty significant one.
hat the largest and most powerful corporations
in the country-business interests such as our
biggest railroads and the steel trust and the
Standard Oil corporation--are working energetic
ally with the new American Association for High
way Improvement because they realize that any
thing that will help the condition OF the country
at large viii help their business. Al the same
time 1t is the farmer class that supplying the
backbone OF this movement Just as they are o.
every other big movement affecting rural condi-
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 is not devoting his time and
his labor to the project any fanciful sentiment
al basis OF course, it contributes to his pride 10
see his farm bounded bisected By a splendid
road and he is gratifed that the good folk who
go past his door pleasure riding should have an
easy pathway. but the great underlying impetus
Is found in the need Of good roads to enable the
farmer to market his produce conveniently and
economically.