The Raymer enterprise., 1913-08-28
GOOD
ROADS
What IMPROVED ROADS MEAN
Spells Prosperity and Happiness te
Exefy Community Which Has
Fdrethousht to See Blessings.
lRy r. e. 1Lps.A

CBy r. e. CLDS., a
Good roads are conducive to better
schools. live rural churches. pleasant
rides. good markets, social advance.
ment. a closer bond Of sympathy and
cooperation between the farme. and
his city cousin who works at the forge.
the lathe or the spindle It spells
prosperity and happiness to every com.
munity which has the means and
business foresight TO see the manifold
blessings which a scientific system OF
good roads secures for Its people. Mud
roads spell an enormous mud tax be-
side which our tariff is like a pygmy
to an elephant.
Again, good roads annihilate dis.
tances and rob farming Of the dread
and drudgery of rural seclusiop. this
fact being notably apparent where a
farmer Is the wise and happy owner
of high.quality, dependable and eco.
nomical motor car. Mud roads brins
social life on the farm to low ebb.
empty the rural churches, make many
little red school houses but a mem.
ory and populate the country with
floating tenants who care very little
for the growth and pcrpetuation OF
the institutions which are the bulwark
OF our national greatness.
Then good roads save time. save
horses and wagons. automobiles and
gasoline. They enable the farmer to
market, at minimum cost. In rnin or
shine. his perishahle produce such as
fruits. vegetables. milk. butter, eggs
and meat. Mud roads compel the
farmer to leave such produce either
30 to waste or deterioration, or what
is near TO either. deter him from pro-
ducing any Of these profit.benring COM
modities because he has no dependable
and convenient avenue for marketing
them.
In cases Of acute illness good roads
enable the physician to bring speedy
relief to the sick annually and save
the lives Of hundreds OF our men. won.
en- and children, fact which more
than trebly compensates any amount
Of money which wo may spend as a
nation. state. county. city or town.
Good roads spell humanity, relief. mer.
cy. life. growth and prosperity. where
as mud roads too often spell poverty.
weakness, decay, sickness, suffering
and death.
As road improvement Is OF nation
wide interest It should be supported
by our national. state and county gov
ernments. This Is notably true with
interstate highways. for It is manifest
ly unjust to tax all the Improvement
TO the abutting land. to tho county or
even to the state. Why should not our
national government promote inter.
state commerce through good country
roads as well us through river and har-
bor improvements?
Good and patriotic men seem 10 be
at variance as to what is the best sys.
TEN Of building roads. Some advocate
three or more cross.coniinent trunk
highways 10 be built and maintained
equally BY the federal government and
by the various states through which
the trunk highways 90. Others favor
the Improvement Of these roads first
which run 10 the county seat. pro-
vided It is a good railroad market
town. and II not. to the most acces.
sible large railroad town In the county.
They believe that these roads should
be properly ditched, graded. rolled and
dragged. Culverts should be built
where the water Is inclined 10 flow
across the road during heavy rains.
Grades should be raised In low places.
hills materially dug down md good
bridges built over creeks and streams
Of Ill kinds.
The citizens OF given county
could by this plan easily determine
on the first ten miles OF good roads
TO be built and maintained. Then
The next five or ten and 80 on fu..
ther away from the principal town or
Towns In the county until every foot
Of dirt road in the county is put in
tlrstclnss condition.
The good leaven Is working In the
minds. hearts and consciences OF the
American people. Good roads. TO
Them, now means more than ever be.
fore. the avenues which leads to na.
tional strength; prosperity and hap.
piness to which every good citizen
should be glad TO give his due meas.
ure OF enthusiastic support.