Evening journal., 1912-05-15
The Association Of
WEDNESDAY, MAY Is. 1912
r,RMrRs sHorID DFMAND coon ROADS.

Y AID roads and bad management Of farm properties
~ have done more to drive population from rural
communities than any. other two things. The former
discomfort the latter for financial disaster
It Significant fact shown by the last census, that
in the ten years covered by that census twenty-five
counties in country that had forty per cent of good
roads gained more than 81 each in population while
twenty-five other counties which had less than two
per improved roads, lost more than 5000 each
in population Those figures that speak for them
selves They should be borne in mind by Deawareans
whom they are considering the proposition 10 build the
dupont Boulevard which would be the foundation for
a good roads system throughout this state
Those twenty-five American counties that had forty
per cent of good roads and gained more than $1,000
each in populadonn paid for those good roads them
selves with money taken from the pockets Of the tax
payers Here IN Delaware have three counties
which have an opportunity obtain for nothing great
trunk good running the length of each county and
with am additional good road in Sussex county, owing
to greater width of that section Of the State, And
yet there unpatrotic and short sighted that
they object the acceptance Of that magnificent gift on
the ground that the protector Of the boulevard who is
willing to oxpend $2OOOOOO of his private for
tune to build it, may earn something from the side
strips along the boulevard
Such persons ignore entirely the enhanced value Of
estate that necessarily would result from the
s,ructou of such a magnificent road. They also lose
sight of tho fact that with that road completed and in
public use, the taxpayers themselves would have such
keen appreciation OF its advantages and Of the dis
advantages of the unimproved roads making into it,
that they would begin widespread crusade for
good roads The result would be that in few years
this State would De gridroned with roads that would
compare favorably with those Of any other state,
Tho farmer paws large proportion Of the taxes and
receives but little return what he pays. He should
demand, compensation for such taxes the improve
10 which ne is entitled and which those ia the
villages and towns NOT only demand, but obtain The
one thing of which the Delaware GARNER stands in
greatest good roads. Never has that fact been
impressed upon him with greater emphasis than dur
ing the present Spring. lie only should have
ne should demand them for the pleasure aud
pro6t for himself and the members of his family
That ne may have substantial foundation upon
which make those demands, he should insist that the
way be cleared for the speedy construction of the
boulevard. Following that tho farmers living the
lateral roads should organize and not ask hut mpera
lively demand that they receive in for the taxes
they pay the good roads to which they entitled.
ne is of paramount Importance however that the boue-
ward be built first Then the people, who aocus-
toned to using dirt roads that deep with mud in
wet weather and surfaced with dust in dry weather.
will realize what public blessing really good road is.