The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-03-05
''SF4E" SIDE AS WELL AS HE" SIDE
TO THE GOOD ROADS MOVEMENT

and live under the description of So
ciaI needs" Under the former CLASH
fcatinn are better farm production.
better marketing facilities, better
mCails of securing farm supplies, bet
ter Credit facilities, better means of
COMMUNICATION ZbyZthe building of
roads and telephones; and under tho
social needs are enumerated better
EDUCATIONAL facilities. better sanitation
better opportunities for recreation,
the Identification OF the countryside
and better home economics. These
needs are to be supplied by commu-
nifty action and II will be observed
that however Varied the activities the
whole fabric is based at last upon the
mehns of communIcation: that Is to
say. upon the building and mainte-
nance of the public highways. For
how can there be better marketing
facilities or better means OF securing
farm supplies, or better educational
facilities. or would better farm produce
ton profit il there were not better
roads to market?
Subject Is Large.
The subject Is 50 large that it can-
not be discussed in single article
and this present writing is intended
chiefly to suggest some OF the fea-
lures of the she" side OF the good
roads movement. To make rural life
comfortable, there must be rural or
ganlzatlon. Men will not stay on the
farm IL the farm is not made attrac-
tive Women will starve for the things
that make lie worth llving-good
schools for their children, community
certers for recreation, we'll built
houses with sanitary convenlences.
we'll CONSTRUCTED roads passable at all
seasons of the year so that they may
freely enjoy the companlonship of
their nelghbors, and the rest of the
things they lack to make their lot
cOntonted. "As the characteristic evils
Of Urban life grow ont of congestion. :"
as DIR. Carver expresses 1t. so do the
characteristic evils at rural life grow
oft of isolation. Except for n few
rare souls, isolation means staEna-
ton"
: Farmers move to town, when they
gre able. because the town schools
are better. Generally speaking. than
the country schools. because the san.
itary conditions. which are necessary
70 health, are better in the towns
than in the country. because the OPP
portunities for recreation are better
I in tie towns than in the country. be-
CAUSE the cnnventenCes to tighten the
burdens OF housekeeping are provided
IN the towns and not in the country.
All tho conditions of rural life can
be Immensely improved by the organ
ization OF rural communities in their
own interest. and the first step To-
yards the Improvement OF these con-
dttions Is the building OF good roads.
Good roads mean better schools, bet
ter neighborS, peter churches. better
houses 10 live In. closer touch with
the outside world. easier ways to mar
ket, thousand new centers of Social
activities Where there is none now
and the return 10 the free and indie
pendent life OF the farm of hundreds
OF thousands who have sought refuge
from the hardships Of rural life in
towns and cities where men live to-
gether however far apart in sentiment
and aspiration.
How can the women help the good
roads movement? In many ways. II
bonds are to be voted for the building
OF roads. by making the question a
domestic matter. II additional taxes
are required. by presenting 10 the
members OF the family who vote the
Question as 1t affects the wife and
( children. II there are roads to be
dragged or graded by community ac'
tion, by taking care that the men and
boys put In q full days work. BY
making common cause with the Amer
lean Highway Association and all
Other organizatlons working for the
Improvement Of the highways for tho
benefit especially of those who live in
the country. This appeal for the help
OF the women is sufficient without fur
Their suggestion. II they think we'll OF
It. they will find the way.