The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-06-14
The Solution Of Ii;gh Prices
Lies in This. Says
John y. WHY'S.
HIGHWAYS ALL IMPORTANT
Because on Them Depends the
Welfare Of All the LO-
cal Community.
u, LOHN y. MILLNs.

Tho huildlug Of good roads s tho most
important factor which this country must
consider boz tho next few years. Tho
improved highway is tho one means of
salvation for the poor man. for In these
days ~ high cost of living we must look
To- the cheaper transportation OF food
stuus ~ our way out. We can no longer
expect to better our condition through n
greater supply of necessities. for every
effort we have made toward lowering the
cost Of food s;uhs heretofore has been
met with the response that the United
States Is now about as intensively cul-
tivnted as It can be.
In other words. our people are no longer
turning TO the country in an effort to
produce larger amount OF food There
fore we must face the problem OF getting
along with the same amount that is now
produced.
The only solution left for us In 10
cut our cost OF production and delivery
The best way TO accomplish this Is to
provide good roads, for we have already
had many demonstrations OF how good
roads will work to our advantage.
The improvement OF highways in many
parts OF our country In the last few
years has been invariably followed by
better living conditions. Where the roads
leading into a large city have been Inn
proved we have seen an increased supply
OF food stuffs on the local markets and
a larger number OF farmers bringing their
products into the city. This. OF a ne
cessity, results in lower prices for the
products and n long step toward better
living conditions.
on the other hand, the Improvement
OF roads throughout the country Is in
variaby followed by an Improvement in
farming methods. The agrlculturist who
heretofore devoted his energies to graz
Ing and the production OF rough food
st'rys such as corn, IS now turning to
what Is known as market gardening. He
Ia raising potatoes. beans, peas and other
commodities that are In every day de-
mpud. simply because he can get them
10 market where heretofore markets WERE
denied him. II is no uncommon sight
nov 10 see farmers driving eighteen or
iW uty n.',S 20 market with loads or
pruluoo which before the highways were
improved were denied the consumer. The
.ut. mobile, 20 is rue. has had great
zeal to to with increasing this supply
hut even This vehicle would be helpless
without hirpwaNs on which TO run.
IN. advent of good roads. too has
Hruugh, about another revolution-that or
atCas.V, tanning The countries of the
Oil world have always regarded us a
or.lonally was;cful people, In That the
product raised on TAO acres of land in
thIa country was often less than they
produced Oh ten acres. Good roads have
charged this condition. The American
farmer now finds that he will get a
greater return from one acre OF land In
tanslvely cultivated than ten acres farmed
IN the old s.ipshod methods would here
,ofurc produce This intensive farming
Ia the direct result OF good roads, for
where the farmer heretofore found II nee
essurv to cultivate crops which made
a large bulk so that his infrequent trips
80 market were profitable. he now finds
that ne can take a small load to the con-
sumner as often as he desires.
Good roads are an undisguised bless
ing, and this every one who has given
the matter any thought will admit. They
not only promote increased industrial ac-
tivity. and therefore better the living con-
ditions of thousands OF our city dwellers
but they provide an improved social life
for people who live In the country. The
family which has access to good road.
and therefore quicker and more pleasant
trips. goes to church oftener, visits the
ne,ghbors oftener and attends farmer
club meetings more frequently. No one
can deny that all OF these are important
factors In the farmers lie.