Evening journal., 1912-09-28


use of future development the COM
munity will be saved many thousands
Of dollars. The question of raising
money for taxes has always been a
great source of annoyance TO those
tax payers always blame those who
whose duty it is to levy tax and the
modified and become altogether dill
ferent from what 1t was In the popu-
Tar mind the benefits Of country liy-
Ing are common only as a fad; the
boy who goes to college and returns
to the farm again is one OF a thous-
and. Who wants to be landlocked
five months of the year, without So
eial advantages? Good roads in one
generation, would accomplish so
cial revolution throughout the United
States that would greatly tend to bet
ter our condition and brighten the
prospect of our future strength. It
might be demonstrated beyond a
reasonable doubt that bad roads are
unfavorable to matrimony and in
crease of population. Seven of the
most stalwart lads and beautiful
maidens of Greece we're sent each
year to Crete to be sacrificed to the
Minotaur; bad roads in America send
thousands of boys and girls into our
cities to the Minotaurs OF evil be-
cause conditions in the country do
not permit the social happiness for
which they naturally yearn.
Thus we may hint at the greater
more serious, phase of the road pro-
blem. Beside it, the financial feature
of the problem can have no place;
the farm has been too much to the
American nation; its product OF boys
and girls has been too eternally pre-
c.ous to the cause OF liberty lot
which our nation stands, TO permit
a system of highways on this con-
tlnent which will make ii place
where now in the twentieth century
foreigners. only, can be happy. The
sociological side of the road question
is of more moment today in this
country, so far as the health Of our
body polite in the future is concern
ed, than nine-tenths of the questions
most prominent in the two or three
or four political platforms that come
annually before the people.
--eip CrOn Values.
Passing the increased value of
lands. look at the equally vital ques-
ton of increased values of crops.
Take first the crops that would be
raised on lands not cultivated today
but which would be cultivated IN a
day of good roads. Look at Virginia,
where only One-third of the land is be-
ing cultivated; the value OF crops
which il is certain would ultimately
be raised on land that Is now unpro-
ductive would amount to at least
sixty million dollars. The general
passenger agent of the Oregon Rail
way and Navigation Company said re
Gently that his lines were crying oui
fer wheat to ship 10 China; we have
reached the limit Of our facilities
twelve or fifteen miles is the greatest
dieiauce farmers can afford 70 hau
Their wheat to us. Make it possible
for them to haul il double that dis
tcnce and you will double the bust
mess in our railway And the business
OF local nature done by "A railroad II
good criterion OF the prosperity OF
the country in which il operates.
Crops now raised on lands within
reach on railways would Of course BE-
enhanced in value by good roads
more loads could be taken at lesi
cost: weather interferences would no
enter into the question. But of more
moment perhaps than anything else
vast amount OF land thus place.
within quick reach of our towns ano
cities would be given over to garden
ing for city markets, a line Of agricul
ture immensely profitable as cit.
people we'll know.
poor roads are like the interes
on debt, and they are workinl
against one all the time IL is notice
able that when good roads are built
farmers, who are always conservative
adjust themselves more readily q
conditions They are in touch VIII
The world and they feel more keenl
It's pulse, much to their advantage
Too many farmers. damned by ba
roads, are guilty Of the faults o
which Birmingham mayor accHse
Alabama planters. "The farmers ar
selling cotton today for less tina
seven cents per pound, while the
could have sold Irish potatoes With
the past few months at two dollar
per bushel." Farmers over the entir
country are held TO be slow In takin
advantage of their whole opportunity
bad roads take the life out of theI
and out of their hOrses-they thin
somewhat as they ride-desperatel
slow: and they will not think taste
until they ride faster. IL is said ths
a man riding on a heavy souther
road saw hat in the mud; stoppin
to pick it up he was surprised to I'm
a head of hair beneath it; then vote
came out of the ground: Hold o
boss. don't take my hat; I've got
powerful fine mule down here SOM
where if / can ever get him out" 70
can write and speak to farmers unit
doomsday about taking quick advan
age of the exigencies of the market
that are dependent on them but
they have 10 hunt for their horses
hog wallow road all your talk wi
be in vain.
when we seriously face the que
ton of how a fine system of highwa,
is to be built IN this country, II
found TO be complex problem. 70
about ten years now IL has been ser
ously debated, and these years ha'
seen a large advance; until now u
problem has become almost nations
Public Utilities on Side.
81 have been asked the questit
many times as to what would be dor
with that part of the right Of way =
used for road purposes, and ] ha'
invariably stated that q number
plans have been suggested and wor
ed out for the use Of the land unit
needed for public utility purpose
The mistake has been made man
many times of having roads al