The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-22
How to Get Good Roads
by HOMER MCKEE,
director Snles aud Advertising, Cole
Motor Car CompnnN

hotor Car Company.
The job OF the advocates or good
roads is TO sell the taxpayer ana the
voter on this proposition:
MY Dear Sir,-The little that good
personally amounts to nothing com
pared with the amount good roads
"3Hid add 10 Your net yearly income"
Whenever YOU show a man that by
giving %ou quarter he can obtain in
return from you 70 cents. he is going
10 come ACROSS with the quarter Tell
him that if he will give YOU a quarter
IL VIII go into fund to purchase an
Niinerlc9h iiag TO hang over The Sultan
oi IurNcNs front door, and he will
probably keep his quarter There has
been too much sentiment in this good
been to ask support for good roads on
the basis of patriotism. Farmers have
been told that they should support good !
roads IN order that America might
keep pace with Europe on a basis OF
linterurban and intcrprovincial com
m,I M, There IS no room left for
cut it out OF Fourth of July speeches.
we i"ve our nag probably more than
ING our appreciation of the Stars and
stripes by opening our mouths, we ac-
compiish the same result in a greater
way by, opening our pocketbooks. In
stead or standing out in n cold rain for
hours TO see the President rush by in
an electricnliy heated limousine. we
rae down TO the courthouse and nav
our taxes like real patriots.
America is essentially a commercial
Good roads. therefore. if they are 10
ne general, must be advocated on a ma
! tional basis.
II This national appeal is 10 strike
nome. II must be practical one
inc practical phase OF good roads is
Good roads increase propertv vaIua.
uon--n piece of real estate Is valuable.
as RUE, IN proportion TO the number
property will Increase in value as tho
town becomes more important, rs the
people coming IN contact with the town
increase numerically--and that is OK
actly what happens TO a town when
iianmers can get to II. Good roads lead
into The pockets Of It's local tusinnsss
men. Country people come to town to
spend money. Good roads give coun-
ny people an added incentive for com
ing 10 town and spending their money. !
~ YOU are town merchant or a town
pa Ken, and want that great wealth of
GOOD fohds--!ts the proper business
thing To do.
But, Of all those who make money out
OF good roads, the farmer rcaps the big
gest benefit. Suppose YOU own a farm
OIL loo ceres. suppose road skirts IT
on one side--onc mile of road let us
say. Suppose that road is clay and
gets hub deep in the winter Then
suppose the county should change il
TO good macadam pike and that YOU.
SNARE or the expense amounted TO 500 I
OF course; YOU know the gross ex-
on q basis of the total physical valua- |
lion.
When the road is finished your farm
VIII actually be worth something like !
50 more on the acre-the Increased ease
and frequency with which YOU are now
enabled 10 get to your place OF market ,
assures YOU an increased earning ca /
pacity OF at least Sc per acre on yonr
W acres. Thus, by cXpending 500 v0i,
,. 1nc put S2oo In your pocket, and YOU (
VIII probably have obtained the greater
part OF the $500 before your road tax
is payable.
~ our great proposed national high 1
ways go through, a little Of that monnv
oi yours which the government com
pels you to pay in the form of tax, Will |
possibly be spent on that road rirht
In front OF your house--if not there on /
q road which viii be easily accessible
Good roads arc not liability--they
are an asset. They don't cost you
ISN'T a question of whether OF not you
can dhord good roads--thc question is
now ~ the world can you get money
enough together 70 do without them?
Lack OF good roads costs like the mis-
chief The most expensive road in the
world ~ ne one you can't use.
Lad roads wear out wagons. ruin
horses, make 1t Impossible for YOU 10
Eet 10 town when your farm stun win
INC value Of yonr land, tend TO make
you hermit. to keep you out OF touch
with things, ana thereby to make you
q poorer moneymakcr.
When the transcontincntal roads arc
finished, YOU viii he on the main line
Win san frnncisco and New York.
tourists VIII pnss your door daily and
eilher leave some OF their money with
yon or With the fellow down the road q
niue VA, who owes You money. and
VINO VIII thereby be made more able
10 pay YOU
The completion Of these roads will
make metropolitan man Of tire farmer
!, VIII tend to make city values or
idrW values When the big roads arc
done 'ou can devote yourself :, little
more to truck raisinG--that most val
liable pastimc Of the real farmcr--;nd
YOU can get Your truck TO town while
Ill Is sun fresh, ana while IL viii de-
hidhd the best price. You can make
more money OF Your cows because YOU