The vidette. (Iuka, Tishomingo County, Miss.) 1912-1967, 1922-08-31
The Value Of Coed Roads

i the State Highway Department has
iesued bulletin on The Benefit
of Good Roads," which in few
words sets forth the principal bene.
| fits that community may derive
from improved 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
III, body social and polit.cll is car
ried 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; namsly.
civilization in all its phases cannot
advance.
During the past six years, the
United States has probably built
more roads than any other two ma
tions in the world, but the work is
still in its infancy. When the fact
is taken into consideration that this
country is almost as large as entire
Europe, a better conception of the
gigantic task that is before the peo-
pie may be obtained. The marvel
Gus increase in the use Of the motor
vehicle in all walks of life demands
that the United States be provide [
with connected National system
of highways, through which the IL
dustrial blood of the Nation may
circulate in any kind of a crisis.
Tnis fact has besn grasped by ths
Government, and such a system is
under construction through the CO.
operation Of the States.
The transition from the wagon
to the motor truck, which begun IN
this century, is net yet complete.
and although the road problem
vital today, it grows more so with
each passing year. Where a com.
muniiy has enc good road, the work
5 not allowed to stop there, for the
numerous improvements and bene-
tits that follow in its wake are evi
dent to all. Improved roads have
made possible consolidated schools
which according to statistics are re-
sponsible for the education of from
eight to ten out of every hundred
children in the rural schools. Bet
{ r churches with larger congrega-
ito Is have been made possible, and
co immunity gatherings of all kinds
have been facilitoted. In many in
stances, 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 bet
ter roads mean better villages, has
truly been borne outl
Considering in the light of econ
omy; if improved roads cost twice
their prerent cost, they would still
be the most economical investment
a community could make. and be
sure of instant return. Cost of haul.
ing i Cne of the mot Sc 10 is obsta
es farmer has to combat. With
improved roads a farmer is able to
hlul an increased load at decreased
time, with a minimum OF wear and
tear n his vehicle. In addition tc
this, improved roads increase real
estate values to much larger ex.
tent than is generally realized. Coco
rsads are the standard by which
homeseekers judge a community
and this is etoming more true al
the people come to realize their vi
tai necessity.
Much publicity has recent,
been given to the So called startling
movement Of the geople from tn
country to the city. In a statemen
recentlf issued by the noted stats
tician, Roger w. Babson, this hu
man tide is shown to be turnin
back to the country at rate almos
as alarming as its influx. This ca
be accounted for by no other caus
than improved roads. Good road
have made it possible for the citie
to scatter Their population to tn
fields lying idle around their sui
urbs, andmake this land feed then
Mr.. Babsoa sees in the future a +,
moval Of many industries, now Gel
] tralized in the cities. to the coul
try, where according to him cond
tions would be more favorable In
proved roads make this both poss