The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1920-07-08

Under the heading as shown above
the editor Of the Ruston Leader says
in last weeks issue of that paper:
"A newspaper in Nermillion County.
Illinois. calls attention to the striking
in that section resulting
from the construction of 1856 miles of
hard roads. New farm homes are con-
stantly going up along these highways.
many OF them built Of brick, stucco, or
other enduring materials.
1.-The basis for this development Is
a system of concrete roads. VermilliOn
County may be better able to undertake.
such an enterprise than the average
agricultural section, since Danville. Its
center OF population, Is a city OF some
81 900 people. Yet even a sparsely pop.
ulated community can undertake less
costly scheme of development.
Good roads make good schools pos
sible. The young folks of community
can he assembled ut a central school.
Or If it is preferred to keep up the
little district schools, good roads en-
courage families to live in the outlying
districts, so that the rural school Will
hive children enough to be maintained
on an economical basis
Good roads make it possible for
fire apparatus I'M cities and towns to
go ont into the country districts and
alve burning buildings. The chance
of fire loss and rural risks, are one Of
the tliseouragements that keep people
from developing farm property.
THE country made an enormous
step in development when railroads
were first put through on n great scale
about fifty years ago. It will make a
similarly advance when hard roads are
equally developed. And If the country
spends the same proportion OF its cap
ital on its roads that it formerly spent
on its railroads most OF the highways
will be hardened"
That's all been agreed long ago. yet
what Is written above is well said and
tersely told. Most every one nowadays
has some good reads near him. Ii not.
he has at least on some occasion trav-
eled over those Of his neighb0r. And
the having of them and travelling over
then, Is what creates the further de
nmnd. 50 it may safely be said that the
good roads movement is subscribed to
Just about everywhere one goes. The
roads are wanted, all right. But Broth
er Lewis, of the Leader. strikes at the
problem that confronts many Of us
when he makes reference to sparsely
settled sections. That's what gets the
good roads advocates to running around
IN Il circle over here In Bossier.
If We have mar miles Of roads
must we attempt to improve them all
Ii SO. of what ina erial should they
he eonstructed-wh material may we
well afford? Or y uid 1t be best to
raise a mammoth N through bond
issue and put in Il INK roads Of best
construction east a / west and north
aud south. leaving re lateral roads to
he improved as dirt roads by the public
spirited residents I the several wards
and kept In condi ion through the use
Of road drags. We iiscline toward this
last suggestion. believing that ii a
unmber of main roads are highly Inn
proved the less used roads leading up
to them will in time he improved
Road construction of some better
type has been something of an issue
before the people here in Bossier Par
ish for some time. 1t is subject well
worth writing about. so we again say
tO fhp Banners readers that their con.
tributiOnS are solicited