Evening journal., 1912-06-10
DEMAND GOOD ROADS.

- INCE Delaware became a State millions upon mil
- lions of road taxes paid by the farmers of
monwealth have been wasted in makeshift work
public roads All of them knew that, and yet it has
taken decades Of work to bring them up the point
where they willing that permanent good roads
shall be built and maintained they ought be for
the public benefit There many farmers in
State who have realize that good road
Is an economy and not extravaganza. Happily, how
ever, the number Of such short-sigbed
ing rapidly the campaign in favor Of good roads
progresses In this state an unfortunate feature of
the situation is that our system has been made
the psythne Of politicians Of certain school they
have worked upon the prejudces Of those yet firm
y committed to the good roads movement Here is an
editorial from the Demsr News which indicates how
the farmers IN Sussex county have been exploited by
makeshft road work
The people Of Sussex county are easy marks They
are heavily taxed and in several they pay an
extra road tax For their money they get in the way
main roads from Laurel and Seaford to Georgetown
and you'll fair idea of what the people for their
money. And unless they rise up in their
might and see that this is done then they don't
anything better than they have right The
people have It in their to get better roads and
II they would do talking about II year after year
and devote part of that energy to concerted work along
the right lines, Sussex county would have some
roads AS II is they haven't much Of anything of
What is true of Sussex county also has been true Of
Kent aud New Castle counties In many districts. II
the money contributed for road by the farmers
of Delaware in the last fifty years had been used in
telligeny systematically in furthersnce of good
roads, would have had by this time complete
system good roads in all three counties and tho
value Of farmlands would have been doubled as
consequence
II is time for Delaware farmers to wake up this
good roads proposition. They should demand some
thing worth while for money they contribute in the
of road taxes About all they get in return under
the present system the districts is little
biz Of powing rounding up and dragging and that
goes from year to year. In other words, they get
nothing lasting for their money
Now is the time of all times for them to begin 90
demand something of permanent nature for tho
taxes they pay With the DUPONT Boulevard about &c
be built as great trunk line the rural taxpayers
have right TO insist that the mskeshft work the
lateral roads shall and that the work Of build
ing roads make into that great trunk line shall
begin.
The experience fredericksburg Md, is that
good roads have increased the value of farm lands
from 25 to 100 per cent. That would be the exper-
ence here in Delaware II the farmers would say 20
tho politicians I'VE have put up with this makeshift
road work long enough We want something perma-
nent in for taxes II you cannot give it to
us we will put somebody in power from whom will
get It." And after the farmer has said it, he should
show by his actions that he it, There is no
much timid than the office holder who hopes
to be retained in power Therefore when the farmer
lets Il be understood clearly that he is determined
to have good roads and to enjoy the convenience,
transportation saving and the realty increment that
/ invariably accompany them, he will get them. No
ofHcehodor or politician win be foolish 20 at
tempt to stand up before such determination in The
rural districts.