The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1921-07-14
FARMERS ARE HEAVY LOSERS

We believe our readers will be in
terested in the following article from
the pen of Will E. Holbein, editor OF
the North Dakota Good Roads maya
zine. Mr.. Holbein is well known in
Brookings and was al one time fore
man Of the mechanical department of
the Register. Through his splendid
secretary of the Minot Chamber of
Commerce and his active participation
in the promotion Of good roads, he
has become known rs n Of the lead.
ers in the work for the development
of North Dakota.
Ex-Governor Edward p. Dunno of
Illinois, was COR a statewide system
of highways in his state, and stated
that under the present method Of road
building the farmers were heavy
losers. He said:
"The loss to farmers, because Of in
accessible primary markets, and the
abnormal expense of transportation
due to bad roads, must be considered
as a contributing cause Of the high
cost of living. Bad roads not only
hinder crop production and market
ing. but they keep the rural consum-
err away from the store OF the mer-
chant for weeks at a time. They keep
pupils away from the schools, the
voters from political gatherings. and
from participation in elections. They
impair the efficiency of churches, and
social, fraternal and other ~organiza-
lions, which depend on public gather
ings for the efficacy Of their work.
bad roads contribute to the unat-
tractiveness, the isolation and the mo-
notony OF country life that are re-
sponsible for the desertion Of rural
pursuits, especially by the young. Ex-
perts in mental ailments agree that
women in remote sections are the chief
sufferers from the restriction of com
m~unication and social intercourse,
which bad roads impose"
Highway conditions in North Dakota
are due to the fact that progress in
methods of transportation and travel
has not been met with corresponding
changes in our system of road build
clings to the obsolete practice Of
placing a large amount of the bur-
den of highway improvement on the
townships. Other states, in their
laws, have appreciated that highway
travel is no longer entirely local and
that the main arteries carry a great
amount of ~inter-county and inter.
state traffic. Permanent improve
ments of the main arteries, which
carry the great bulk of traffic, is the
problem which affects the general
welfare, and these states have estab-
lished, successfully, systems of state
aid or such highways.
If there is anything that will tend
to keep the young people to the farm
and that will make the life of the
older ones living upon the farm more
enjoyable, it is better roads. Good
roads will do away in a large meas
ure with the line of demarkation be-.
tween the town and the country. 1t
will make the farmer more self-re-
specting. He will take a more active
part in the social affairs of his neigh
borhood, which should include the
town as well as the country. The
town people will mingle with the
country people more in their social
affairs than has been done in the past.
With poor roads it is impossible TO
make an appointment in town in ad-
vance without taking the weather into
consideration, unless you are living
upon a real highway.
The ordinary farmer should look at
this matter of a statewide system of
highways from an unbiased stand
point, and see that it Is to his ad-
vantage, whether he owns an automo-
bile or not. One Of the advantages is
economy. He will save one-half in
hauling his crop to market. His teams
will haul heavier loads, they will make
the trip in a much shorter space of
time, and the general expense of wear
and tear upon his team and wagon will
be less. These are the things that
come home to the farmers In an eco
nomic way. When these roads are
built. the farmers are going to do more
Of the hauling with trucks. and a farm.
er should look forward to that side
Of the question.
The farmer who happens to live of
a branch Of the proposed system Of