The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1954-04-08

communities have resulted IN
great highway improvements in
the past 20 years. Extensive i'm
proVementS have been made to
Route 40, including the elimina-
ton of the dangerous Norwich
grade crossing. An intensive
effort is now being made for the
improvement of Route Il. Much
is to be done, but much has been
accomplished toward the i'm
provement of the State and Fed
eral highway system. In 1880 the
district had almost 10000 miles
of totally unimproved county
and township roads. Today less
than 1000 miles of these roads
remain unimproved due to the
hard work OF local officials and
the securing of gasoline tax
funds. A new bridge has been
completed across the MuSkin-
gum River at Marietta. Another
is being constructed at Philo and
third is expected to be con-
structed at GAINESVILLE. A great
new bridge is under construction
over the Ohio River between
Belpre and Parkersburg.
Education In a democracy
education is essential and in the
/ 18th District there are two of
the finest colleges in the United
States Marietta College and
MuSkingum College, attended by
hundreds of young men and
women from the district as well
as many from other parts of
Ohio and other states. 81 hope in
every way they can my people
will appreciate and support
these two great institutions. D
Dozens of new school buildings
have been erected in the past 20
years during which time count
less members of local school
boards have labored long hours
and the citizens of many COM
munitieS have voted millions
that their children might have
better educational facilities. For
education, as well as entertain
ment, there are in the district
three radio stations and a tele-
vision station.
Agriculture - There are 1900
farms in the 18th district accord
ing to the 1850 census. Over 400
of these farmers earn more
money off the farm than they
do from the sale of farm pro-
ducts a situation which can
not be duplicated in any district
in the United States. Today
farm tenancy is only one-hal1
what it was in 1880 with more
than 900 of the farmers owning
their own farms. In 1880 only
! l,700 farms in the 18th Distric
had electricity. Today more thar
$4,000 have electricity and eS
sentially it is available to all
!, No rural district in Ohio has a.
| great a percentage of electrified
farms as the 18th District. Elec
!, tricity has brought to the farm
homes thousands of deep freeZ
!, ers, electric washing machines
radios, teleViSion sets and count
less other conveniences total!
; impossible just few years ago
From 1910 to 1850 the number o
farm tractors multiplied NOR,
than three times. Farmers of th'
18th District own several thou
sand more trucks and automobil
eS than there are farms in dis
trict There is one great need still
to be fulfilled and that is ade
quate telephone service for tn
rural people of the 18th District
At least 400 Of the farmers hav
no telephones and many wit
telephones need better service
This is a matter entirely unde
the control of the Public Utilitie
Commission of Ohio whose re
cent ruling indicate that we ma
j: expect much improvement i
rural telephone service
Community Improvements -
y 1t would be impossible to list a
the public improvements tha
have been made in the 18th Dis
$ trict in recent years. Five neN