so apparent, so self-evident, that the discussion thereof is
but a discussion of truisms. Much as we appreciate
railroads, rivers, and canals as means for transportation of
the commerce of the country, they are, in my judgment, of
less importance to mankind, to the masses of the people, and
to all classes of people, than are good country roads.

"I live in a section of the country where that important
subject has found at the hands of the people apparently less
appreciation and less effort toward improvement than in many
others. In behalf of the Good Roads Association, headed by
Colonel Moore and Mr. Richardson, which recently met in the
state of Mississippi, I want to say that more interest has
been aroused by their efforts concerning this important
subject among the people there than perhaps ever existed
before in the history of the state. By their work,
demonstrating what could be done by the methods which they
employed, and by their agitation of the question, the
people have become aroused as they never were before; and
since their departure from the state a large number of
counties which were not already working under the contract
system have provided for public highways, worked by
contract, requiring the contractor to give a good and
sufficient bond, a bond broad enough in its provisions and
large enough in amount to compel faithful service; and
Mississippi is today starting out on a higher plane than
ever before."

FOOTNOTES:

[5] By Hon. Martin Dodge, Director of the Office of Public Road
Inquiries.

CHAPTER III

GOOD ROADS FOR FARMERS[6]

Poor roads constitute the greatest drawback to rural life, and for the
lack of good roads the farmers suffer more than any other class. It is
obviously unnecessary, therefore, to discuss here the benefits to be
derived by them from improved roads. Suffice it to say, that those
localities where good roads have been built are becoming richer, more
prosperous, and more thickly settled, while those which do not possess
these advantages in transportation are either at a standstill or are
becoming poorer and more sparsely settled. If these conditions continue,
fruitful farms may be abandoned and rich lands go to waste. Life on a
farm often becomes, as a result of "bottomless roads," isolated and
barren of social enjo