Arizona republican., 1920-12-20
GOOD, PAVED ROADS
 AN IMPORTANT A|D
 TO PUBLIC HEALTH
By pr. KimbaII Bannister

The following cOnSlQeTdL1OHSs SLOW- mig the effect of good. paved roads on public health are of the greatest inn portance to the people of Maricopa county who will vote for the highway bonds on December 31.
 The condition of the roads or streets leading past your home, whether It be in the city or in the country has distinct influence on the general health of the community in which you live. The road on which you live may either be the means of preventing disease and bringing prompt assistance in case of sickness, or it may be the hiding place of disease bearing germs which the slightest puff of wind will scatter broadcast through the air. There Is very distinct menace in the dust which | blows around your homes and from 1 your roads into your home. Tubercu- losis and other respiratory diseases are largely attributable to dirty roads or streets, the dust of which rises like a | fog whenever traffic passes. This is a particularly important consideration l in the Salt River valley, which Is famed as a health resort. From a sanitary point of view, the ideal pave ment will be clean, and as free as possible from dust. It will have a hard, non-absorbent surface, free from irregularities and numerous joints, and will afford little Judgment for dirt and refuge on its surface. It will be so hard and smooth that 1t can be washed like floor. The irregular surfaces of unimproved roads, espe- cially of the present dirt roads of Maricopa county cannot be kept clean.
 The modern. hard surfaced road, provides a pavement like hospital
 surface, so drained that the appllca- ton of water from flusher will carry away nearly every particle of filth
 from it's moorings, and carry 1t into
 the sewer or ditches without inter ruption.
 Paving Eliminates Filth
 Tn rural districts the paved road has
 a beneficial effect on the health of the
 community. Germ-Iaden dust is as
 harmful to the farmer as 1t is to the
 city dweller. The paved road elimi-
 mates the dust and its impervious sur
 face is easily cleaned by the rair
 which washes the filth into thu
 ditches and carries 1t away. It keep;
 the wayside vegetation and the hous- es free from dust.
 No competent doctor wants to es tablish a country practice where 1t is
 hard for him to get around and wher' living conditions are not attractive
 Bad roads make it difficult to trans r port patients to hospitals, and increas' l the difficulty of securing the service; 3 of nurses or specialists. When tn
 doctor is needed. he is needed at once 9 and the delay in reaching the patien
 over almost impossible roads ma, } have far-reaching consequences. Bu ] with a system of permanent, pavet a roads the increased social life and bet I ter living conditions will attract tn
 young doctor to the country practice
 and will enable him to reach his pa
 tients in the least possible time
 Good roads in the surrounding rura
 districts mean a steady supply of fresl
 foodstuffs and insure the delivery o
 fresh sweet milk. They also provid . the means for recreation and rest an make it easy for the city worker t l. get out in the country where he ma Il forget his business cares.
 Medical officers are urging the con : struction of pavements which are eas s fly cleaned, and those in authority i s rural road matters are beginning [ t realize the health bringing. as we'll a n the economic value of the paved coun try road.