The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-06-19
High WAYS.

ume of an agricultural paper entitled The
Flow Boy published at Albany, N. Y,
commencing June 9Th, 1919, edited by Sol
oman SOuthWick, an enthusiastic writer of
that day on agricultural subjects, taking the
name in his paper of Henry HOmespun,
Jr. In An editorial article, under date of
June 10Th, 1919, referring to the first num-
Der of newspaper he had received called
the Mi,s0urt IRtelltgencer and Bo0ne's LEX
1dCertiSer, dwelling at some length upon
the advance of civilization over the territory
of the United States, he says:
1.-The editor of this paper has been
thought eXtravagant for having asserted in
in private circle that in less than cen
fury we should have in all probability a
turn pike route from Albany to the shores
of the Pacific. But such a contamination
is not less to be expected than ii was to
have expected twenty years ago that we
should now see on the wild and distant
theatre of Boone's hunting exploits, a print
ing press bringing intelligence weekly
among a numerous population. And now
we repeat that Henry Homespun, Jr, is no
prophet, or the second rising generation
from the present will march straight for
ward on smooth road and through flour
lshing settlements from Albany to the
Columbia river"
All of which has been more than realz
ed both in point of time and mode of con
veyance, in a less period than was predicted
We have had the smooth road, reaching
away to the Columbia river and the Pacific
coast, not only the wagon road but three
great railway lines, overcoming an expense
of hundreds of millions
IL inf i'm "a. of ha hos loo
eff the early time before mentioned as TO
the future of public roads in this country,
and of the eXerti0ns put forth for their con
struction over long distances to accommo-
date distant points and enterprising local.
ties on the way, and for the advancement
of the commerce of the country, of which
that great national route known as the Cum.
berlana was one; undertaken by the aid of
the United States governm ent; added to
which was Mayesville turn pike road, tore
Swallowing an extensive system of nation
al internal Improvements of this kind, the
progress of which was brought to a Sudden
termination 10y the Interference of Presi-
dent Jackson in vetoing "A bill for an ap.
preparation of money to aid in the cOnstruc-
ton of the last mentioned road, a subject
which entered so much into the pOlitiCts of
lne country AT tlat Jay.
But as was said of 81 cold things are
passing away, behold all things are become
new." We are no longer contending, as
the sportsman would say, with objects at
"long range" we are no longer striving on
the question as TO when and how to reach
the shores of the Pacific from point ut
the head of naviga' on on the Hudson riv r,
neither are We contending against the thee
ries and constitutional objections in the
days of Gen. Jackson, for means to con
struct national highway to the Mlssissip-
pi, commencing at point on tne Ale
gheny mountains.
These having been more than realized
our attention is directed at this day simply
to the neighborhood highway, the average
length of which is three miles and h0f.
And the great problem before us Is how to
make this way so complete and substantial
in its construction as to admit of passage
over it at all seasons of the year, in rain
or shine" with full load of the farmers
products, to the nearest railway station.
The popular decree up to the present
time has been that it can be done. To
which the most We can say in response is
that while this has MT been done, there Is
certainly no good reason for the continu.
ance of our chronic apathy on this subject
heretofore existing. In attempting reform
in this regard we are confronted with the
obstinancy and objectionable selfishness of
a considerable proportion Of the tax payers,
added to the stupidity and dOg-in-the- man
ger spirit of a class of persons, who too fire.
quently are elected to take charge of the
of our local highways.
When figures are presented to the aver
age tax payer, showing how this road OF
three miles and half may he constructed
so that he can with certainty reach the
nearest railway station with full load OF
his farm products at any season Of the year,
he stands agash and responds that ii can not
be done When YOU point out TO him the
great success of our railway system at fabu-
lous cost, upon which to base an argum-
ent by comparison, he responds that this
has been done 10y the contribution of CAPT
talisis under the direction Of great corpor-
atoms for that purpose. But the fact never
theless comes back to Us that the expense
of our great railway system has been, or Is
TO be-, paid for by the same p ople, or FROM
the like source that our local highways are
To be improved; only the tax is assessed
8 collected under somewhat different
mode. There is no farmer OF property hOl-
der In the country but what In the course
Of ayear puts up, or pays his share of the