FROM DAYS GONE BY FEB 21,1919

February 21, 1919.

As the automobile became affordable and more available also came the demand for better roads. Better roads has always been a want even before the automobile as buggy's and wagons had a rough and hard time over the poor, unkept roads. Even today we complaint of the want for better roads. The following is an editorial on better roads published by the editors of the Headlight. This was rapidly becoming a major issue not only here but statewide.
What about good roads? What do you say Mr. Farmer, about better roads for your county? What do you think about this important matter now? What would you say if you had a hard highway, one that is passable any day in the year/
Such roads would be an index to the progressiveness of your community, of your county and section. Such roads would no doubt increase the value of all that land you and your neighbors own. Such roads would save you annually enough money to buy all the clothing your family would need.
The new year is here. Your roads and the roads of your neighbors and your neighboring counties are far beyond being anything like they should be and with no reference to anything regarding the present management whatever are still getting worse.
Those in charge are no doubt doing everything they can with the means and force at hand. No kick is coming on them. But did you know that good roads, the kind that stand the test of weather and travel, will do you no good, your property no good when the sod is laid over six feet of earth?
To get good roads money must be spent. That is the first item that enters into the question and about the only one in this day of modern road building machinery. The question then arises, how are we to get money to build highways?
What do you say, Mr. Property Owner? Let us hear from some one on this matter. The columns of this paper are thrown open to any citizen of the county for use in discussing good roads and how best to get hem this year or as soon as practicable.
All over Georgia, yes, even all over Johnson County, people are perfectly willing to go down in their pockets and pay for the good roads they need and want at this time. Talking with a lot of people recently on the matter we have ascertained this fact. They are not ignorant of the loss they are sustaining from bad roads all over the state and consequently feel just like they ought to remedy the conditions and have a system of durable highways.
It is certainly not any disgruntled element whatever behind this move for better roads. It is not for the sake of politics nor favor from any source. It is a move coming from the very best people of the state from the highest to the poorest, from all classes. From Rabun's distinguished Gap to the famous Marshes of Glynn people are aroused for better highways.
The Georgia Legislature at its coming season can assuredly do no better thing for their constituents and posterity than to enact legislation which will bring highways of permanency and durability, if it takes this to get them. Georgians are indebted to their splendid leader, Governor Hugh Dorsey, for his concern and interest in good roads and it is hoped the move will see something tangible done at the coming session.