Paragould soliphone. (Paragould, Ark.) 1918-1950, 1922-03-15
DIR. v. R. OWENS
WRITES ABOUT
ROAD BUILDING
Former Resident of Greene
County Thinks We Should
Not Let Lone Star Route
Miss Us.

(From Tuesdays Daily
DIR. w. r. Owens who moved to
Glendale, California, several months
ago is much interested in the much
discussed subject of building good
roads in Greene County, his former
home. The Daily Press and Tri-
Weekly Soliphone are just in receipt
of a very interesting letter from him
in which he outlines the great ad-
vantages of well built highways and
the wonderful help they have been
in the upbuilding of California The
letter should be read by every citi-
zen of Greene county. Here 1t is:
742 e. Wilson Avenue,
Glendale, California.
March s, 1922.
The Daily Press,
Paragould, Arkansas.
Gentlemen:
From time to time | have read,
since coming here, articles, letters
and editorials on good roads as
printed in your valuable paper, these
pertaining to efforts and plans to
bring good roads to Greene county.
Being a good roads booster may
be permitted, through your paper,
to say few words as to the roads
in this section of California, and
what it means to this section.
I'm 1890 the entire population
100000. Now the city of Los An
geles alone has about 100000. To
what is the rapid growth of this
section due? Not to the climate
alone, for the climate has been
here for centuries, and while the.
climate has it's drawing power, yet
| believe the main factor in this
rapid growth is it's wonderful high
ways, of which there is veritable
network leading to every accessible
point in the county
Millions of dollars have been
spent for these highways, and more
are yet building. To one, who, like
myself, has been accustomed to
nothing but bad roads all his life.
these splendid roads change his en-
tire outlook upon life.
Just think what it means to get
in your car for the days outing
over such roads as these. The auto
ist can ride all day or all week on
smooth, paved roads. no dust, no
mud, nothing but pleasure and de-
light in such an outing. The an
nual tourist crop here yields about
$3.50, 900 to the city OF Los An
geles alone. This no doubt would
be cut more than half were it
not for the good roads here.
There is always something allur-
ing about good roads. People who
have enjoyed them will tell others.
of them, and the word goes out that
a certain community has fine roads,
this within itself attracts people
with money, thus the community
having the good roads will quickly
be filled with families of wealth,
who invest their money. This in
turn transforms, the community into
one of great desirability as a place
of residence. Property values quick
| ly mount to profitable figures.
Should the splendid highways OF
| this section be allowed to perish
believe the county would rapidly
diminish in population, and neither
climate or soil, nor beautiful seen
cry would hold it up. The tourist
crop would drop off at least so per
cent in one season, and this much
talked of section would retrograde
rapidly to it's former undeveloped
condition.
| IL say this to show the wonderful
power of good roads in community
building. And the same pulling
power of good highways could be
seen in Greene county in proportion
as is here. Ii all the farmers iii the
county could ride or drive over these
roads for week they would be will
| ing to have a tax on the land to pay
the expense rather than put up with
them as they are at present.
| Good roads will make any com-
munity from hundred to thou
sand per cent better, while the lack
of them absolutely prevents the high
development of any community in
the world. Much more could be
said about the good road movement.
but | say all this to illustrate what
good roads have done for one c0na-
munity at least.
| "Yours truly, &
| ssW Owcns Nf n.H