Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1914-11-12

or all of the important roads radiating
from the town. While il i possible that.
on a gwen road, the greatest benefit,
will be obtained by spending the money
that may be- available for II in improving
some particularly bad part of the road al
a distance from the town. the general
policy, | believe, should be the IMPROVE
ment, first, Of that part Of the road lead
ing out from the town.
"If the policy Of dividing the money
available among several roads rather than
concentrating il on a single road shall be
adopted, II may not he practicable 10 i'm
prove an extended mileage on any one of
the roads. This will. however, permit the
larger number of people to share IN the
benefits, for the farmer driving into town
from any direction, even though he may
live beyond the end Of the good road. "
have an improved highway for at lea.t part
Of hi haul to town. Then, a. additional
funds become available, from year 10 year.
each of these roads may Dc extended
further into the country, until, in time.
they form connection, with similar radiat-
ing roads constructed by other communi-
ties, and the entire locality il provided
with a network of good roads.
"While a system of radiating roads of
this kind will benefit the farmer primarily.
1t will also he helpful 10 the town. In an
agricultural community without substantial
manufacturing enterprises, the town j.
practically supported by the trade Of the
farmers OF the surrounding country. a
good road, 10 the degree that il may en-
able a farmer to market to better adj
vantage, increases hi purchasing power
to the benefit of the merchants in the town
where he may trade. Improved highways
radiatIng from a town widen the area
from within which the farmer may profit
ably market HI, products and buy his sup
plies in the town. Good roads IN any
community are also an important factor
in attracting farm settlers, who will bring
increased trade 10 the town.
But we nave in the Soith many purely
industrial towns and cities which may
seem not 10 depend largely on any hack
country-town> IN which the trade of the
surrounding farmers j. relatively Of little
Importance IN the total volume Of their
business. Such towns are nevertheless in
terested in developing a system of radiat-
lng roads such a. | have suggested. Even
in the largest city. a certain element of
the population J. concerned. directly or in
directly, IN the trade Of the surrounding
country and every resident i almost a.
much interested in building up nearby
sources of cheap and fresh supplies for
hi market a. he J. in the maintenance 81
good schools.
with bad roads that are almost i'm
passable during certain seasons of the year
the area within which milk and perishable
articles generally, can he successfully pro-
duccd for the city market, j. restricted.
With improved roads this area j. greatly
extended. A system of good roads out Of
a city may mean. for a large part Of the
population. the difference between fresh
food and the cold storage variety.
IL may emphasize the point | am en-
dcavoring a. make nv citing the concrete
example of Mecklenbcrg county. North
Carolina. That county was one of the
first IN the state systematically TO take
up the matter Of road Improvement. The
United States census reports show that in
the twenty years from 1890 90 1910. the
population If Mecklenberg county in
creased % per cent, a. compared with an
increase Of but 81 per cent for the state
Of North Carolina n a whole. and the
population If Charlotte. the county seat.
increased IN the same period 19i per cent,
a more rapid rate of growth than wa
shown by any other Incorporated place
~ relatively the same size in the state.
THE value Of all farm property in
Mccklenberg county in 1910, a. reported
10y the census bureau. was greater than
m any other county in the state with the
exception Of hut one county with one and
thrceiourth, times the area of Mecklenbcrg
county, and the value Of farm lands, per
acre. wa> greater than III any other county
~ the state with a single exception. Other
factors have contributed Ia the progress
~ Mccklcnbcrg county. but we may fairly
attribute part Of IL growth in population
and wealth 70 IT, enlightened road policy.
"othcr Southern counties might be-
cited showing similar progress following
the construction of improved country high
way radIating from a central market town
and ! believe that. wherever thi> policy NAV
he adopted. II wisdom will be- demon
>trated ~ results"
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