West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-02-17
IndisputabIe Facts Anent Good Roads


Indisputable Facts Anent Good Roads
Men who are constantly using roads.
and whose business is of such a ma
ture that they may be located at any
point in the state at any time, oppose
he bond Observation-Disclosures
because the roads as proposed for
permanent improvement do not hap
e to pass their present location.
They don't appear to figure on a prob
able location where good roads will.
at some future date, save them enough
In two or three-yes, in one month,
to more than pay all the taxes the
bond issue will cost them. Saw mill
men say, and no other business needs
Improvement Of roads more, and
neither has any other business placed
a greater stress on such roads as we
have.
We sometimes hear that THE Shack
elford bill" will pass Congress and we
VIII get government aid in keeping up
the present roads. God helps those
who help themselves" and 1t will be
so In case this bill becomes a law. in
regard to Uncle Sam. II the under
standing Of the bill which we have is
correct, 1t provides $4,000 per mile for
brick paving. concrete, asphalt OF
other hard surfaced roads; $4,000 for
broken rock or gravel surfaced roads
and $500 for dirt roads, well drained
and dragged, provided the local gov
eminent will provide a like sum, and
at that 1t makes provision only for
post roads" or those travelled by the
rural carriers or star mail routes
Will some n who is opposed to the
bond issue, and al the same time fay-
orable CD 10 good roads, stand ND
In m~eetin'" and tell us just where
Lyon district will come in for a sin
gle dollar under this measure, unless
we build roads first?
How much paving would there be in
any OF our large towns IL people OF
those towns had refused to issue paw.
Ing bonds because the improvements
didn't pass their doors? 90 per cent
OF the paving was done because those
who were unfortunate enough to live
on the thoroughfares proposed for
Improvement, were patriotic enough
and progressive enough and unselhsh
enough 70 aid their more fortunately
located fellow citizens in the uplifi
Of their town. Is there a single logi-
cal reason Why the same advantages
that have accrued to towns and cities
from street Improvement, should not
accrue to LYON district from road i'm
provement? Is Il possible the people
In the rural districts are less patriotic
or less unselhsh than those living in
the larger centers Of population?
Why does the farmer lose his boy
as soon as he gets away from home
and sees how much more favorable
conditions Of life are elsewhere7 And
why Is this same boy so often found
living among strangers, engaged in
"a - NNg Wages WutEe ne can
90 somewhere when he wants TO With
out dragging a buggy through mud
half-hub deep7 How many OF these
same boys would have remained 81
home II decent roads had permitted a
reasonable amount Of social inter
CourBa2
Why 40 We End so many abandoned
farms Ga The county?
Why 81 4his condition not IN evil
dence where the people have advan-
tage Of good roads?
Why % farmers not produce as
much and as good produce az they can
handle? Why IL Il done where roads
are in h~rst-class condition.
Why has the population Of Preston
remained practically stationary for 40
years. while counties with passable
rDads hare doubled or trebisd This
n0a had kept pace with the
average Increase In population for the
state should have q population Of fifty
10 SIXTY thousand. Look e up and see
bow far short Of that number II is.
years ago n was about 1900.
coumitee on Publication.