The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1916-05-18
PRIZE ESSAY WRITER
Phillip Little, of Hamilton Town.
ship Wins Free Trip to the Iowa
State Fair This Year.

The report OF the judges on the
Boys Prize Essay Contest, is now in
the hands of the county chairman,
Mabel Horner. The first prize is
awarded to Philip Little, of Hamil-
ton township, with Frank Matteson,
of Burrell, and Arthur Sipherd, Of
Grand River, close seconds. The sub
ject on which the boys wrote this
year was "How Good Roads Benefit
the Farmer" The prize is trip to
the State Fair. A number of very
excellent essays were written on the
general subject of Good Roads,
which did not conform to the condi-
tions of the contest. The judges
in the contest were E. d. Moore, Of
Lamont, G. C. Dye, Of Woodland,
and Jas. F. Harvey. of Leon. The
| following is the prize essay:
| The good roads question is very
important and people should give it
careful consideration because of the
relation of the roads to the develop
ment of the country. The people
should be grateful to the road build
ers of the past for they made it pos
sible to conquer and settle the coun-
, try. Had it not been for roads neith-
er Iowa nor any of the other west
ern states would have been settled
because provisions had to be hauled
here from the east.
By having good roads the Iowa
farmer can haul his grain and other
farm products to market at any time.
Prices vary considerable on produce
during the year, and are generally
the highest when the roads are in
such condition that the farmer cam
not get to market If the roads
could be travelled at any time the
prices would be more nearly govern
ed by supply and demand
The farmer could also haul larger
loads on the good roads with the
same energy that is used to pull
smaller loads on poor ones. Strength
thus wasted in pulling through mud
holes and over rough places could be
we'll spent in improving the roads.
BY hauling larger loads there
would be fewer loads; Furthermore,
when the roads have been systematic
cally graded and dragged they will
dry sooner, making it possible for
the farmers to travel over them
soon after a rain and before the
fields are in condition to work Dur
ing the farming season, time is very
valuable to the farmer. His crops
will we'll repay him for these extra
days saved which he spends in the
fields.
Farm lands are more valuable
when located on good road on ac-.
count of the improvements made by
their owners. Each would try to
make his place the most attractive
along the road. With better roads
and their autos, farmers could go Of
tener to the agricultural exhibits
where they would discuss plans for
management and improvement with
experienced farmers and farm ex-
perts. They would see the results of
these experiments when would be
more convincing than mere theories
This would be an incentive to raise
larger crops and better live stock,
which would make them more pros
porous.
The farmer could take his family
in the auto and visit their friends
and relatives miles away and much
of the cause of young peoples going
to the city would be removed. The
young people could visit each other
and have entertainments and they
would not think of leaving the farm
to go to the city.
Centralized schools will not be an
entire success until we have good
roads because transportation is poor
and expensive on poor roads. AS
good roads will make it possible to
have centralized schools, the land
within range will be bought by peo-
pie desiring good homes. People in
these communities will then have
the same school advantages for their
children as those living in towns
have at the present time.
Considering the benefit of good
roads to country and its people, we
should remember the advantages of
we'll built roads for the transporta-
ton of troops, munitions and provi-
sions in time of war, and their use
as roads will unite the whole country.
l believe we all agree that we need
better roads, even though we do not
agree as to financing or building
them.
So let us, as the future road build
ers of this state and nation, give the
question our careful study, that we
may be ready to build roads suited
to each locality as to cost, durability
and advantages.