The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1922-08-17
STATE HIGHWAYS.
Wonderful Progress Being Made in
State in Road Building.


In response to many requests, the
State Highway Department has is
sued a bulletin on 'sThe Benefits Of
Good Roads, which in a few words
sets forth the principal benefits that
community may derive from i'm.
proved roads, and shows the crying
need for them.
This bulletin reads in part as fol-
lows: Roads are veins and arteries,
by means Of which the circulation Of
the body social and polite is carried
on Where there are no roads, or
the roads are in such condition as to
be impossible, the result is the same
as if the circulation in the human
body were retarded; namely, civiliza-
tion in all its phases cannot advance.
During the past six years, the u
nited States has probably built more
roads than any other two nations in
the world, but the work is still in its
infancy. When the fact is taken into
consideration that this country is al
most as large as entire Europe, bet
ter conception Of the gigantic task
that is before the people may be OBJ
tanned. The marvellous increase in
the use Of the motor vehicle in all
walks Of life demands that the Unit
ed States be provided with connect
ed National system Of highways,
through which the industrial blood Of
the Nation may circulate in any kind
Of a crisis. This fact has been
grasped by the Government, and such
system is under construction
through the cooperation Of the States.
NThe transition from the wagon to
the motor truck, which begun in this
century, is not yet complete, and all
though the road problem is vital to-
/ day, it grows more so with each pass
I ing year. Where a community has
one good road, the work is not allow
ed to stop there, for the numerous
| improvements and benefits that fol-
] low in its wake are evident to all. Inn
proved roads have made possible con-
/ solidated schools, which according to
statistics are responsible for the ed
ugation Of from eight to ten out Of
every hundred children in the rural
schools Better churches with larger
congregations have been made possi-
! Bile, and community gatherings Of all
kinds have been facilitated. In many
instances, improved roads have made
possible extension Of rural mail de-
livery routes, and in all cases have
they been made quicker and surer.
The old saying that better villages
do not mean better roads, but better
roads mean better villages, has tru-
lly been borne out.
considering in the light Of econo-
my; IL improved roads cost twice their
present cost, they would still be the
most economical investment COM
munity could make, and be sure Of
instant returns. The cost Of hauling
IS one Of the most serious obstacles
a farmer has to combat. With i'm
proved roads, farmer is able to haul
an increased load, at decreased time
with a minimum of wear and tear on
his vehicle. In addition to this, i'm
proved roads increase realestate val
ues to a much larger extent than is
generally realized. Good roads are
the standard by which homeseekers
Judge a community and this is be-
| coming more true as the people come
I to realize their vital necessity
sMuch publicity has recently beer
! given to the so called startling move
, ment Of the people from the country
to the city. In a statement recently
.. issued by the noted sfatistician, sRo2
er W. Babson, this human tide Il
shown to be turning back to thl
I country at a rate almost as alarming
as its influx This can be accounter
{ for bv no other cause than improves
roads. Good roads have made It pos
I sible for the cities to scatter theil
population to the fields lying idle a