The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1914-12-18
RID ROADS ARE OUR WORST ASSET.


newly graded hill Just short distance from
Columbia This great bugbear was removed
during the spring of th.s ear and made
model road, but now the fod weather mas
about set in and the condition of this hill is
inst simply the definition of procrastlnatlon.
The lack Of the rigr spirit put towards hay
inc it gravelcd before winter sets IN has oc-
casioncd the farm that have to travel that
mile of road to ,ecOme discouraged. 10
gravel this hill for the distance OF one mile
would mean a zig saving to the farmers OF
this parish and the town OF Columbia. Model
roads are one of The very best means tor the
upbuilding of any community. The farmer.
who more than anyone else is benefited by
them, should give his heartiest support to the
movement for building good roads. He has
to merely glance over the statistics setting
forth the benefits to be secured In the item
of hauling his crops to market he IS now,
without good roads, The attention Of the
proper ones should be immediately turned in
the direction of having this mile of public
road graveled AS it stands, apparently the
progressive spirit has been banished in Our
midst, when it comes to keeping good thing
going when they have once been started.
This parish has spent something like $1,000
and the state aid received has been the like
amount on this hill to put it in condition So
it can be travelled and not as it is now, after
rains, filled with ruts and mudhOles into
which the wheels often sink several inches.
Now is the time for steps to be taken to-
wards perfecting plans already laid out to
Al, T.
Let our business people get together and
see if something can't be done towards put
ting this hill in first class condition. Our
police Jury is fixed in it's opinions regarding
this hill and building good roads in Cald
we'll Parish The problem has been upper
most in their minds for years and practically
every member of that body are in favor of
better system of roads in this parish, but
it seems that is as far as the question goes.
When resident of Caldwell visits other
sections Of the state they are impressed with
the wisdom displayed by the police jury of
the different parishes and the tax PAYERS,
in the way they are building gravel roads
The opportunity has presented itself for
ut their shoulder to the wheel of progress
Ind again remove this bug -a-bear that stairs
Jus in the face every time trip has to be
made to Grayson or Clarks or any other Sec
ton in that direction Elections are being
held often in other parishes of the state to
build gravel roads, and number of them are
under Roadway in laying them. Among them
being Assumption, lberville and Ascension
Parishes that are the fortunate ones laying
gravel roads, and these parishes are getting
lot of good advertising on account of this
Improvement. West Baton Rouge has re-
Gently voted to build gravel roads in that
parish
We have heard merchants complaining of
losing business, which can be traced to the
results of such conditions that exists at this
hill we refer to- This trade can be regained
if we get busy and furnish them with good
road leading to Our town If better roads
are provided the buying public to any town
they will come, and the cry of losing bust
ness will be thing of the past Something
must be done towards providing better roads
for Our farmers to travel. Unless this is done
it is reasonably to assume that the farmers
will go to the town best reached by smooth
roads. Rear up on your hind legs progress
i've people of Columbia and go after this
system and fix this hill by having it graveled
before thebad weather sets in. We can write
column after column on the subject of good
roads, but it takes action to produce results