The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-08-24

expenses. increased earning or great
er enjoyment, then we don't want
them at all. II they will pay divid-
ends in any or all three of these de-
partments of human accounting. as
we bellies they will, then the sooner
we get busy the sooner we will COM
mence to get some of our money back.
"If We undertook to build a court
house today as we are building roads
we would levy small tax and the
first year dig a hole in the ground;
then next year we would hire a new
foreman and new gang Of men ESQ
as to spread 1t around) clean out the
hole, and build foundation If we
didn't have change of administra-
ton before another year rolled around
we would theoretically speaking) lay
the floor and possibly build a little bit
of wall In this way we would (theo-
retically) complete court house in
period Of years possibly covering ten
to thirty. but r wonder how many Of
US would figure that would be a bust
ness like way Of making the invest
ment Well. that's the way you are
building roads in these communities.
What does it mean to this state
to have a system of 365 days in the
year roads. First, let me say that 1
have no patience with the agitators
who preach back to the farm move
ment. That is out of date with mod
ern transportation methods. What
we want now is to move every farm
in the great black dirt belt into town.
| In order to do that, 1t is only neces-
sary that we connect up with the
town by means Of 365 day in the
year road There is not farm In
central Illinois that is more than
| twenty miles from railroad station
with a good road.
Tho Four Groups.
There are four groups Of problems
that we discuss In connection with
rural life. They are, greater produc-
ton, education Of the farmers boy
and girl, social life, particularly for
his wife and grown daughter. and the
development of community spirit.
II challenge anyone to point out
how there could be anything left Of
any one Of these problems If every
! farm was connected with its oommun-
| ity center by a 365 day in the year
road. The mere fact that such sys-
tenn of road exists strikes the word
rural out of the language of that
community. It becomes a unit with
| out further action. Is It worth the
COST
Leaving out Of consideration fin
ancial reasons, forgetting the fact that
a system Of roads will reduce expense,
emitting from our balance sheet any
! increased earnings or increased value
do you not think that 1t would be well
| worth all 1t would cost you. just from
| the standpoint of adding to your op-
portunities to, enjoy life?
i after all we spend but a small
part of our income for mere existence
/ The great bulk OF 1t goes for things
! that we enjoy Wholly from the
standpoint Of enjoying It, luxury II
/ you want to call it that, don't you be-
lieve that this community, or any 9th.
J er community as rich and prosperous
as this one. can well afford to provide
for itself the opportunity and the
pleasure OF being able to visit and
mingle with other members who nat
urally belong to that community and
who should be your neighbors?
Up to You.
ut Is up to you. If you WILL you
hnay; if you do not SO will, you will
continue to paddle around in the mud
while the more progressive communi
ties look upon you with mingled pity
and contempt"