The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-06-18
STATE WIDE
MOVEMENT
To Secure Better Road Ways
In Ohio
Matter will Be Presented To
The People
In The Form Of Amendment
To Constitution
To Be Voted On At Election
| IN September
Good Roads Federation Back
| Uf The Proposition

It is only few years ago that the
roads in Ohio were, in the country and
most without exception, delusion
and a snare. The people bore the dis
comfort, which arose from this, be-
cause they knew of nothing better and
IL had become a fixed custom to ex-
pect that when one went driving the
wheels would probably sink to the
hubs in mud and part of the harness
give way.
When farmer started for town,
with load of produce the time of his
return was uncertain. 1t depended
largely upon whether the sun shone or
a rain storm developed. II the latter
a sufficient excuse was furnished to
remain away all night and there were
no embarrassing questions from the
good house wife. The condition of
the roads was enough.
There was no thought in the minds
of the people that annually from $l0,
100000 to SI2,OOO,00O were being lost
because of the inadequate means of
transportation and that in the end
they, themselves, were compelled 10
pay for this. They had always mad
bad roads and accepted the belief that
such would continue to be the case.
But change has come. In a great
many localities when the husbandman
leaves his farm for town his horses
trot along over improved highways OF
modern construction and he can sit in
quiet contentment and cheerily view
the landscape at peace with himself
and the world. The city resident Is no
less the beneficiary. He can now drive
out in the evening or on Sundays, in
those places where good roads have
been established, without danger OF
breakdown or ruilled temper.
Every right minded person loves a
something wrong in the mental make
| up. Many men would be out of en-
ployment with empty pockets II II
were not for these faithful animals
who plod and pull and toll at their
masters bidding too often under lash
of whip with scanty food awaiting
them at the end of work. To the hors
Oh good roads are boon; likewise tC
the owners for they lengthen the life
of service while increasing by far the
total of tonnage which the horse car
| draw. The amount of money which
would annually be saved to owners In
this way cannot be estimated but Il
would reach into large figures.
| There Is n great work being done II
this state along the lines OF road i'm
prOvement, n work OF which the peO
pie In general have but small cOncep
tion, and for which they share 'nt
blame since Il has not been brought Il
them as face to face question, the
solution OF which lies with them alone
Through the operations of Ohio
Good Roads Federation OF which
Archibald II. Huston OF Columbus II
President; former State Senator w. A
Alsdorf of JohnstOwn. State Superin
tendent and with which such men a
James X. Marker OF Greenville, STATE
Highway Commissioner; A. =. Sand
les OF Ottawa, State Commissioner o
Agriculture; Jesse Taylor OF James
town and others of prominence arr
officially connected, u movement ha
been put under full headway to giv'
this state the best system OF highway
In the Union.
Now, there Is hardly person II
Ohio that is not interested in this AM
who will not be directly effected b.
the outcome. Everybody uses the
roads more or less each year. II not Ii
buggy or wagon or an automobil
then on foot, Children walk to schoo
and in the places where the roads ar
poor they often have most vexatiou
time. Sometimes, perhaps, the cond
ton is such that they are forced l.
remain at home and thus secure hol
day.
In places where good roads hav
been established walking Is no longe
! a hardship, except in time OF rain an