The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1916-03-02
Vocational Column
GOOD ROADS
Nv Winton

upon highways. What Is the use Of
building an attractive home at the
end or along the side OF road that
is impassable9 What good will II do
TO strive for a prosperous church, a
consolidated school, or anything that
is enterprising and uplifting, when
an able-bodied team cannot pull an
empty wagon over the road as
shown in the picture at the
bottom Of this page9 Under
such conditions can we look with
a frown upon the young men and
women for leaving their farm home
for the city? This condition should
not exist any longer. Good macadam
roads are as much an Improvement
over the dirt roads as the first wagon
was an Improvement over the Indian
trail. II stands for just as much in
the development Of the county.
Good roads will limit the actions
and ideals Of any people. THE two
great forces for the advancement Of
civilization are the school master
and good roads" The road officials
and farmers are not the only people
that are interested in this great issue.
Men in every phase Of life are In
tcnsely concerned. There has been a
great deal Of work accomplished in
the last five years along this line.
But all Of the work that has been
done Is only beginning. All people,
who are conscious OF the need OF good
reads can find work 20 do.
All reforms that are effective have
to begin at home. This is especial
ly true of highways. This has been
proven by the results obtained in
some communities. In such locality
il has taken leader with the ability
Ia get each individual TO thinking
and then put those thoughts into CO.
operative action in order 10 have
the proper results. II seems 10 me
that Vocational and Normal pupils
especially. after we get out OF school
can be Of great assistance in bring
ing about the reforms necessary.
The men that are in the field and
the women that are in the kitchen
are the ones who should be inter-
ested. but we know they are not con-
cerned as they should be. II is the
duty Of every teacher 10 inculate
this great need into the minds Of the
young "a we'll as the older pupils.
This method will have a great in
iluence over the parents. do not
mean that the teachers should I'M
dertake 10 teach road building. II
is meant however that teachers
should start sentiment for good
roads. This can be done by having
the pupil To write compositions on
the good road question and by
furnishing each pupil with govern
ment bulletins.
Every sane man and woman is
surely wanting better roads be-
cause il means better churches, con-
solidated schools. improved social
conditions and better markets, which
mean more money. All people from
mountain districts know that we do
not have church but once or twice
per month. The schools are far from
being what they should be. The
children Of these rural homes are
hungry for knowledge, but cannot be
satisfied on the account of the bad
roads. The social life is dreadful.
lin fact we do not have much social
life and the city is reaping the con-
sequences.
We diner. however. in opinion as
to what method we shall use in order
To- get them. Here in the mountains
We are very fortunate in having a
large quantity OF the proper kind OF
rock TO build good roads. There
are two methods that I will men,
ton that may be used in order TO get
pixies. Each method however has its
advantage over the other. First is
by direct tax, second, by voting bonds
upon the county. The direct tax
plan is just levying heavy tax suf-
flcient TO pay for the roads as they
are built. This method does not
necessitate paying interest. This
plan is unpopular and unwise in
most counties. II means that the
county would necessarily have TO be
very rich, otherwise il could not
stand such heavy tax, or il would
have TO build roads too slow TO be Of
service TO the present generation.
Capital to invest in some enter
prise does not go where the
reads are decorated with mud holes.
Instead Of wealth coming in, il is 60
ing out. All of the best farmers, as
well as business men know that