The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-11-26
AGrrArrNG TIE PROPER QUESTION.

A few DAYS since we took the position
! editorially that the city ought to improve
its streets, and, if necessary, issue and
negotiate bonds for that purpose We were
gratified to observe alterward, from com
municatons received from reputable citi-
zens that our suggestions met with the
hearty support of many of the controlling
minds in our midst, and we notice since
then that the same subjects are attracting
attention in other quarters, in fact that
the subject of "road-makingn is becoming
really an important and much mooted
question. 1t does seem as if the people of
this country were a long time find
ing out what they really need, but they
generally, fortunately, go in with vim and
earnestness when the utility and practical
| benefits of an enterprise or an internal inn
proyement is forced upon their understand
ing. Elsewhere this morning we publish
an editorial from the st. Louis Republican,
under the heading of "Road-Making," and
we desire to bespeak for it an attentive
perusal. Suggestions in the article applica-
Bile to the State of Missouri are equally APP
plicable to Texas and the people of both
c)mmonwealths are standing in their own
light by failing to look after matters immC-
diatcly of such widespread interest and
50 intimately affecting the various
branches of industry and trade
The position taken by this paper
in the matter of city improvement, is as
proper and necessary when extended to the
remodeling and repair of county roads. In
both cases something must be done. We
cannot longer afford to baltic with the
mud and Inconvenience of county travel
| for our business has assumed too large pro-
portions and population and travel have
| grown too great to be ieopardized for want
OF proper, easy and safe transportation IA
eilities We are urging this subject upon
the attention of the people of Dallas county
and city particularly, because it is most di-
rectly related to the fullness or empt.-
ness of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of perhaps any
question that could arise relative to the
material development of the county or
city. But it holds good all over North
Texas, where, from the peculiar formation
OF the soil, we are ordinarily greater suf-
iererS from bad and almost impossible
roads in the winter than will be found else
where. Now it seems to be cry in the
West for railroads, and every town and |
county has not only signified its willing
a In IL, 70 II,
and possession of one of these iron arteries |
OF trade but in fact seeks after them, and |
piles bonus upon tax to accomplish their
purpose. All this is well and wise, |
but the benefits that cnsuc from such .
course do not begin to reach |
out into as many departments !
OF county or city trade or conduce TO the .
convenience or profit of the farmer and .
small dealer by onc-halt as W uld well
devised system of rock and gravel and
graded roads extending to all the different
sections of the country. Railroads are
made for long hauls and principally benefit
jobbers and wholesale dealers, while the
TACT must remain patent to every man of
sense that the wagon and the pack-mule
must always be depended.upon for the plan
ters transportation of his products to mar
ket. The additional weight that might be
c led, the time saved in reaching the
centres of business, the protection to stock
and the prevention OF the wear and tear of
both animal and vehicle, in one season
would far more than compensate the benc-
iiciary of such system for the paltry tax
that might be imposed upon him to perfect
the same. In the name of common-sense
and commandments why cannot those
who have been compelled to contribute so
literally to the great railway corporations
in the interest as we have seen more d.
rectly of the large dealer, now that they
are belted to the outside world, begin to
lnaugurate some movement calculated to
enrich themselves, to add some additional II
comforts to their own lives and homes, as.
sist in increasing the Nttractivcness of the
country, and so draw new settlers and cap.
ital TO the State? We cannot hope to
have men from the East and North
used to their magnificent roads and the
thrift and economy and the cleanliness of
the farming class of that section come
among us and locate so long as we are prac-
tically mud-bound for a great period of the
year, so long MS half the profits of q crop
are eaten up by the constant wear and tear
of such miserable transportation us they
would inevitably have to depend upon. II
is not necessary to so into figures. A mat
ter of $1,000 or $500 600 in bonds that will
run for forty years and be easily liquidated
by rich and populous community who
will be reaping the full fruits OF the
system, matter of this character
is, we say, of most trinng sig.
niicance, and we do hope that
our people will wake up to this truth once
for all, that the internal improvement of n
country is worth far more than boarded
means or unused credit, and is the surest
and first passport to anything like general
wealth and prosperity in the community.
II is gratifying, as We have said, to see that
other journals and sections are agitating
this matter continuously and mean TO do
what experience and good business policy
Indicate should be done, even il we of this
particular locality are tardy and remss in
the premises Give us, nj whntpvcr cost