Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1914-01-10
GOOD ROADS FROM
THE FARMERS STANDPOINT.

THE FARMERS STANDPOINT.
There is so much being written and
said about the good road movement that
perhaps few words may not be amiss.
We often hear wonder and surprise ex-
pressed that the farmer, the one most
directly affected, should remain so in
different to the movement. The gist OF
the matter is right here. The poor yok-
ed has come to realize that when the
politician, commercial club, or others
have an ak to grind, the suffering and
wrongs of the poor farmer are dragged
out to serve as text for his, or their
commiseration. A good roads article in
the Farmers Dispa tch contains the seed
Of thought, not intended by the writer
that illustrates the point of view taken
by the average tiller of the soil.
He says "Cotton had advanced one
dollar bale and the farmers were noti-
fed by telephone. Two farmers living
an equal distance from market decided
to take advantage of the rise. One liv
ing upon the improved or good" high
way drew in four bales while the other
was able to move but one. The one re.
allied four dollars to the others one.
Now will wager that the man on the
unimproved highway was not good
roads enthusiast, for the reason that his
money had helped to build the road from
which he could never hope to receive
any benefit. And right there is where
the farmers of the country at large stand
today. The proposition to build i'm.
proved roads from one trade center to
another does not appeal to more than
| about one per cent of the rural popula.
tion, because 1t does not benefit the other
ninety-nine but the SO per cent pay 9s
per cent of the cost of such improve
| ments.
Here again is another proposition
That the government expend $9,0000 00C
on an improved highway from coast to
coast and that the states through which
it shall pass shall each appropriate sum
prorata to its mileage and each county
through which it shall pass also furnish
an equal amount the same as the state.
Just think $27, 100000 for tran soon
tinental highway! Now about wha pro
portion of the people who would have tc
pay this vast sum could ever hope to &c.
cure any of its advantages? Suppose fol
instance it were to cross our state from
Sioux Falls via Mitchell, Pierre, Rapit
City and Custer how many inhabitantl
of Custer county would ever see th,
road, to say nothing of using it? True
the dwellers of cities on or near the lin,
who were owners of autoes and tourist
could appreciate it to its full extent, bu
"Jones" who has to haul his produce t,
Buffalo Gap, Hot Springs or Custer, ever
if he lives either north or south of tha
place, to help pay his share of the bill
will not smile when he looks at his ia,
receipt nor feel bit chestv oyer "Ou
philanthropy"
1t must not be inferred that the poo
"Rube" is not alive to the benefits o
good roads, or as keenly enthusiast,
for their construction as any class in tn
world, but he wants to see it worked ou
in just and equitable manner SO tha
each may receive some of the advantage
for the money expended. AS applie'
locally, for all the money expended Il
Custer county for highway purposes tn,
township of Argyle, containing the Lar
gest rural population of any in the coun
ty, did not receive one cent of benefi
except the pole tax of its inhabitants
Naturally they feel as though they ough
.. to take the matter into their own hand
and collect and disburse their own funds
. One OF THEM.