The Oskaloosa herald., 1916-05-18
ROADS AFFECT FARMS
Prize Essay That win Take Mahas
ka Boy to State Fair.

@b k as Ia --@~-%------- @fftsf EsA4 At4A.
AT least one Mahaska County boy
viii get to attend the state fair this
year The State Fair Association has
offered q prize in the form Of all eX-
penses paid for the fair, to the boy
who wrote the best essay on How
Good Roads Would Affect the Iowa
Farm" The contest was conducted in
ninety-nine counties in the state, and
the winners of first prize In each coun
ty will be taken to the fair,
OF the fourteen or fifteen essays en-
tered in the contest from Mahaska
county, Robert Thomas of Cedar won
first prize. r. Boyd Klinker of New
sharon won first prize. While Mr.
Boyd's essay contained more ideas up
on the subject in hand, the essay
which Mr.. Thomas wrote contained
better construction, better English ana
better form throughout, Miss Jessie
Coleman, instructor in English at the
OskaioOsa High School was the
Judge for the Mahaska county essays.
The essay as written by Mr.. Thomas,
follows: O. '"..r
"The benefits that can be derived
from good roads by the Iowa farmer
are very numerous. Good roads en-
courage him to buy an automobile
which he can use tor business or pleas
ure. Thus the horses are saved many
hot and tiresome trips on the hard
roads, in addition to their work in the
field. One OF the factors that go to
make the family's life more enjoyable
IL the automobile They save time
which Is very valuable In seeding or
harpes.. and the horses are spared for
the work on the farm alone.
Much time can be saved, when haul
ing produce on good roads to the mar
ket which may be only a mile away
or possibly farther. -,,s 30 j
If the farmer uses teams to haul his
produce, they can make the trip in a
shorter length OF time and with no
great effort on smooth and firm roads.
III auto.trucks are used, the trip can
be made with ease. and little or no
wear on the machine. Above all, larg.
er loads can be hauled on gond roads
by team or auto truck, thereby getting
more produce to a good market, IN
less time, and with less expense n
On good roads the car is used to
the best advantage by the farmer. A
halliday required by a team, to make
a trip to town or elsewhere, can be
made in one or two hours by the
automobile IL machinery happens 10
break in a busy season the repairs
can be had on hand in a short time
ard the work resumed after a short
delay. This means a saving of time
and money for the farmer, especially
in harvesting.
A good and progressive community
and good roads are fonnd together al
most without exception. These two
factors increase the value of the land
to such an extent that it is good in
vestment, because land that is in a
good community is bound 10 be in de-
mand Progressive farmers are win.
ing to pay few dollars extra per acre
per acre for land that is in a good
community.
Good roads and a good community
go to help solve the problem Of keep.
ing the young people on the farm.
They have as good or better nCfghbors
than their city cousins, and are en-
abled to 90 to town once I'm a while
and not have to stay at homo all OF
the time. and work. When this priv.
ilege is to be had they have no d" |
sire to leave the farm for the city.
When consolidation of schools is
talked for the first time in a commune
fly, one Of the first questions that
arises is What will be the cost of !
transportat;on?F If the community !
has good roads the question is easily
solved; If not. the consolidation will
more than likely be deferred until the =,
condition Of the roads is hettered.
On good roads the busses can make
their trips quickly, thus getting the
chidrlen to and from school in good
time. One consolidated school can
take in much more territory. that has
good roads. because the children can
be taken some distance In a short
time. This tends to mako one good
consolidated school instead of two,
that are inferior A good school in.
Creases the interest Of the people in
its work, enlarges the community,
making it prosperous and progressive.
Where a community or farmers he.
comes well known, marketing at bet
ter prices than the ordinary, Is much
easier Buyers will pay good prices
for produce by lively and mp to datr
farmers . .- i
Viewed from all points, good roads
are indispensable to the Iowa farm.
er, or for farmer of any state" j.
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