Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-03-02
GOOD HIGHWAYS ARE TREATMENT
 ISSUE OF HOUR
Road Building Vital Factor in Preventing Social
 Unrest.

a scale commensurate with the re- sources and the needs of this country would do more to overcome and to prevent the kind of social unrest which finds expression in anarchy and bolshevism than anything else which can be undertaken from ma- terial point of view.
 Increased employment i'll industrial pursuits of the men thrown out of work by the cessation of war activi- ties will go long way towards solv- ing some of the problems which we face, but every manufacturing enter prise in the country might be crowded to the limit of it's capacity and still social unrest would continue so long as the cost of living remains as high as at present. And social unrest will continue on the farms as we'll as in the factories so long as farm life is hampered by mud and sand roads and by the inedqualities which farmers, , farm aborers and the women of the farms have to endure.
 F. Urban development during the last twenty-five years has been on such a tremendous scale that 1t has drawn millions of people away from the quiet pursuits of the country into the activity of the city. This very change has stimulated their thought and broadened their mental horibon. They have come to see many things from different standpoint since they got away from the long hours of labor on the farm, running often from day. brak until dark, or even later. l Without the advantages of social in- tercourse and the modern house con- veniences, the country people have be- gun to contrast the comfort of city life with well-paved streets free from mud, with running water in every house, and other sanitary conven- fences which add greatly to the conn., forts of life.
 Will Aid Farmer.
 The big problem before America , is now to put the farmer and his fam fly and his help on a parity with the dwellers in the cities, so far as the city's conveniences are concerned. It is impossible to solve that problem except through the building of good highways
 The farmer who lives on an im- passable mud road or on one whose 'sand makes travel well night impos- sible can never enjoy these conven- fences in his own home. The very conditions of mud and sand practical ly make impossible the development of better facilities for living. These impossible roads lessen social activi- ties, lessen the opportunity for edu- cation and for church attendance, and are largely the cause of the loneli- ness of country life, which falls upon the women especially, as we'll as up- on all of the young people.
 ; In olden times, before city life had, through the development of industrial activities. become such factor in world affairs, there was not so much difference between the conveniences enjoyed by the country man and the city man. Now the difference is as wide IS the distance between the East and the West. City conveniences have enormously expanded; the coun- try districts have < remained practically at standstill. So long as this condi- tion lasts, there will be unrest on the farms and an eager desire on the part of the farmers and farm laborers to get away from the country into the city. This drains the farming sections of millions of people who under other conditions would remain on the farms to their own advantage and to the benefit of the entire country. i Every activity of the farmer is either burdened by bad roads or bet tered by good roads. The cost of ev- cry wheel that turns on 8 highway is increased by bad roads or lessened by good roads. Aid Production. Increased agricultural production can be brought about only by the building of good roads except in times of abnormally high prices. Good roads 1 except in times of abnormally high prices. Good roads would mean low , CT cost of foodstuffs for the consumer without in any way lessening the pro- fit to the producer. Indeed, the profit of farming would be greatly enhanced even at lower prices based on good roads as compared with high prices and bad roads.
 The food supply of the country, one of the greatest factors entering into a country, can only be solved by, the the social unrest or the happiness of building of highways substantial and permanent, and equal to the demands of the motor truck and automobile traffic. ie ;. :: < .,... .> 1 We have seen only the infancy oi the motor truck and the automobile only the infancy of the use of the in ternal combustion of gasoline engine The time will come, if we are wise in the building of highways, when the internal combustion engine will not on. ly carry vast travel and freight back and forth between city and country but when it will be entirely feasible to elertcially light large proportion of farm homes and by gasoline powe, supply them with running water anc give them other conveniences which are now obtainable only on a few farms, probably not one in thous