Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-07-20
The Light of God Highway
BY EDWIN W. WOODCOCK.

f1eCted in the following poetic words
of H z. Hopkins, radiantly suggests
the glorious dawn Of a new day, when
humanity awakens from the drugged
slumber of superstition, arouses itself,
shakes off the slOth of ignorance, and
gazes with the joyous light of knowl-
edge upon the glorious realities and
possibilities of human life.
The cry of the old woman from the
Mexican wilderness of seIf-expIOiting
greed is the same spirit cry that has
been heard in every age since the time
Of Adam
In many parts of the world of hu-
mainly it is now resounding with
thunderous reverberatiOns. 1t is being
heard even in Rock Island county and
Will continue to be heard until the
people as a whole wake up TO their
highway possibilities.
The board of supervisors has heard
this good roads now" cry and is Civ
ing ear to it. AS a preliminary to
further action the board has wisely
authorized d traffic census survey of
the county, so that it can better de-
termine ways and means to build
Light of God Highways in a business
like manner to meet modern trans
pOrtatiOn requirements.
In September when the supervisors
make their plans and reCOmm enda-
tiOns public they will find that the ma
jOrity Of the people of the county have
also heard the cry. They will give
up wishing and praying for roads and
as free men in a free country will
manfully vote to provide their chosen
county officials with means to build
them, and thus lay county foundation
stones Of prosperity for all.
THE LIGHT OF GOD HIGHWAY.
By H f Hopkins
Copyright 1916 Road Maker Publish
ing Company.
(The highway that begins at Column
bus, y. M for hundreds of miles winds
its way down into the heart of Old
Mexico. AS train after train of army
trucks Numbered by, laden with neces-
stiles for our troops, an old woman.
bereft of home and children, was ask
cd by a newspaper correspondent what
she thought it all meant It's the
light of God coming to our poor land
along this highway.D
All the long day on the Mexican trail
The motor trucks thunder and Creak
and wall
On a road that winds it's tOrtuous way
Through canyons, DER hilltops, in
sand ana IN clay
It's the trail that starts at Columbus
town
And for hundreds of miles-now up,
Till at length it reaches Mexico's
heart
Where, some day, Peace cometh and
War will depart
'"Tis the light Of God coming TO our
poor land"
Cried bent old crone, "'Tis the
dear Gods hand
That is guiding your soldiers who
bring us aid;
Who will succor our people from
bandit raid
From outrage and piIlage, from muir
der and greed.
This help that you bring us in our
dire need
Gives US the breath of life, lghtens
our load
It's Gods light that is casting its
rays on this road"
Light of God Highway! 1t reaches
your town.
Your little ones travel it up and
down.
Winter and summer, to school and to
play
No storm-riven roadways to say
them nay;
No doctor in need is kept from your
door
While grief and despair tear at your
hearts core,
And seconds seem hours Of wait and
delay:
Oft this is their plight who won't
pave their way.
Light of God Highway! There's one
near your farm?
Then friends can draw near in eve /
And Joys in your heart when neigh /
Welcomes your visit. oh. you an
derstand!
You know your iife's real, and happily /
spent,
Not lonely and empty. nor sordidly /
bent.
Say. brother. fits strange that most
folks can't see
What good roads have wrought for
you and for me-
Light OF God Highway. It's travelled by
all
Who are quick 10 give heed to Pros
perity's call.
Our country's defense, its progress.
its veal
Depend on good highways Where is
your zeal?
What are you doing7 How high is
your aim7
And what have you builded that's
worthy the name?
Light Of God Highway, How long
must it plead
To make one and all of us see its
great need?
All the news all the tiTae-The
ArRus.