Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1912-08-16
FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 1912.
THE GOOD ROADS ELECTION.

THE GOOD ROADS ELECTION.
With the action Of the county
commissioners, Wednesday, ordering
an election TO be held on the first
day of October, on the proposition
10 issue bonds Of Cameron county to
the amount of $3.50, 600, for high
way Improvement, the question Of
good roads in this county passes
from the academic 10 the concrete
form. 1t is no longer an abstract
question Of the desirability Of good
roads, but a question OF whether we
in fact desire them.
Very early in this year the ques-
ton came to the front and was pre-
scented to the people in a way that
attracted their attention-and held
their attention also, let us hope.
There was the striking itinerary Of
the road builders special train
through this Valley in March. The
progress of that train was an oya-
tion. Newspapers printed an
. nouncements of the programmes Of
The road boomers days in advance OF
|ir arrival. The billboards Of
Try town on the route were COW
I'D with posters, and the posters
IRE pictures, and each picture was
beautifully autographed and
thoroughly convincing argument in
behalf of good roads
In all towns where the train
halted the road builders were met
with bands, escorted to town halls,
welcomed by boards Of trade, may
ors and town councils. The demon
stration cars were visited by men
and women, and with one voice and
one accord the people seemed to de-
Rand better highways.
**&
So far so good. The theory
seemed all right. The doctrine Of
good roads appeared TO be sound and
: very full Of comfort. Yet the time
has now come when we must pass
from theory 10 practice if we really
want good roads. Everything in
this world that is worth while has
its price; and the price must be
provided for, before the commodity
il delivered. If Cameron county
wants good roads she must buy them
with money. or with moneys equiva-
lent in labor. She will now have to
decide whether the commodity IL
worth the price.
It ought not TO take Ions to de-
eide the question in he affirmative.
Good roads are essential 10 the de-
velopment Of the county-undoubt-
eddy essential. And the development
should not have 10 wait by the way
side until the roads are ready. 1t
is much TO have a climate where
men can farm twelve months in the
year; it is much 70 have a soil I'M
rivaIed in its richness, and in ill.,
capaNility Of producing an almost
inhnla variety Of crops; 1t II much
to have splendid irrigation facili-
ties; but when climate. soil and wa
ter have done their appointed work.
there arises the problem Of getting
the crop from the farm to the ship
ping point whence it must seek its
ultimate market
Is there any man who has spent
six months on a farm who does not
appreciate the value Of good roads?
Perhaps not. Yet there are many
men who do not consider the good
road as a thing to be reckoned with
as part OF the actual cost Of farm
ing. Yet it is rather strange that
any intelligent man should over
\ look a fact that lies under his very
NOSE. He who has formed a high
Lay to such a purpose that one
horse can haul a load With ease that
two horses formerly hauled with diff
ficulty. has actually cut i'm two the
cost OF getting hat load to market.
No matter how you count il, wheth-
err the horse remains in the pasture,
or whethe- be hauls another load To
a RI same aav 81 Tia san,