Page:What to do for Uncle Sam; a first book of citizenship (IA whattodoforuncle00bail).pdf/98

94 Uncle Sam needs the help of every boy and girl in the United States in keeping his streets safe and in good condition.

When our country was first settled there were no roads. The Indians made trails from one camp to another, and from forest to stream. Herds of buffalo tramped pathways for themselves, but these were dangerous roads for the Colonists to follow. Stage routes, and cow paths, and mountain trails made by wild beasts were also make-shifts. It took weeks to travel a distance that a train can cover in a few hours to-day. Gold from the West could not be brought East, and corn raised in New England could not be taken out West. Cotton from the South could not come to the North, and the North could not send iron for machinery South. Moving from one town to another took many days, and letters might come a month apart.

As soon as he could, though, after he had built his Capitol at Washington and the people had elected George Washington as our first President. Uncle Sam took to the road. He asked farmers, towns, and states to build good roads. We have been building roads and policing roads, and improving roads, and giving trains and street cars a right of way ever since. This takes up a good share of public time and vast sums of money.