The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1913-07-02
THE GREAT NEED
OF DEVELOPMENT
In Kentucky Along Agri-
cultural Lines.
ONE PLAN PROMISES SUCCESS
That Is State Aid, Equaliz
ing the Effort In Ev.
cry Direction.
THE MEANING OF GOOD ROADS


Towns in the last census period
gained three inhabitants for every
one that rural districts gained; but
all those living in Incorporated
places Of less than $500 inhabi-
tants are classified by the census as
rural population. The gain in pop
ulation. broadly speaking, was con-
fined TO towns of more than $500
inhabitants: and a table prepared
by the National Federation of Re-
tail Merchants shows more than
5000 country towns, in eight
States, that actually lost population
in the ten years. This table in
cludes 156 county seats in Missou-
ri, lowe, Indiana, Michigan and ILL
nois. out of a total of 400 county
seats in those States.
This rather extensive stagnation
of decay in country-town popula-
ton in the great agricultural re-
gion approximately bounded by the
Missouri. Ohio and Hudson rivers is
described by correspondent as ap-
palling II certainly indicates that
the country town should take stock
of itself.
Several months ago an investi-
cation of the same phenomena
within relatively restricted area
led to a strong presumption of an
intimate relationship between good
roads and. country-town population
those towns that enjoyed the adj
vantage OF improved highways
tending to hold their own or to
gain, and those under the disad-
vantage of bad roads tending to
lose. For country town that de-
ponds upon rural trade. this is the
very first point to be considered"
-Gsaturday Evening Post.
Fully 80 per cent of the towns
in Kentucky are country towns"
Since there are more than 60 coun-
ties having none but dirt roads. i'm
passable for the greater part of the
winter months, it may safely be as
counties at least are fortunate If
they have succeeded in holding
their own in population.
Furthermore, kentucky itself is
rural State, having but one city
of the first class and not more than
half dozen of the second class.
Two-thirds Of it's counties are pau
per. that Is. they receive more from
the State for their support than
they pay to the State for its sup
port. IL is plain to the wayfaring
man, or at least it should be plain.
that Kentucky will continue to be a
State where good roads are the
widely scattered exception, if coun-1
ty bond issues or local taxation Is |
to be depended on TO raise the nee
essary funds. That plan has been
tried out for something over a
century and more than half the
counties are without good roads 1,
The one plan,,that promises sue
cess is State aid, under which the |
wealthier counties in Kentucky and |
corporations doing business in the |
State will be made to contribute
the major portion of the fund de-
voted by the State TO road building
purposes. The strongest objection
that can be urged to this plan Is
that the State is in debt. But the
most effective method yet devised
by which a State or an individual
can get out of debt is by an in
crease OF revenues.
That good roads mean increased
farm values. larger net prices for
farm products and a saving in farm
labor. whether of man or beast. is
fact too invariably proved to be
fact. TO be questioned. It's about
time that Kentucky was giving II
Recognition. And no better time
will be presented than the next SEES
sion OF the General Assembly
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