The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1890-01-31
How TO Improve Roads.

1t is admitted that Pennsylvania is
away in the rear of progress in public
highways, and it is a hopeful sign that
been quickened to the extent OF
making the Safe Board of Ag-
riculture devote a special meeting to
the general discussion of our bad roads
and the best method OF improving
them.
The common infiImity OF the age de-
veloped itself in q prominent degree in
proposing means for attaining better
roads. The theory that the Govern
ment whetherSSgate or National, must
assume the paternai Office and do for
the people what they can best do for
themselves seems to have ruled IN the
various propositions for improving our
Pennsylvania roads, Even Governor
Beaver was so far forgetful of bis own
high official duties as to suggest that it
might be best for .he State TO make
the more important roads. or course,
with such a suggestion coming from
the Governor, Is was only logical for
others to accept the paternal proffsr of
the State and insist that the State
should make good roads for the people.
Had Governor Beaver given serious
consideration TO the subject and spoken
with that csLdor that was due from
him on The occasion, be would EaSe
said that State appropriations for roads
had long ceased TO be the policy or the
State. and that TO turn back to the pa
terBal theory tha, was born OF stern
uecessiny when turnpikes and canals
were beyond the scope of private or
corporate enterprise. would only invite
the Legislature TO log-roll road appro-
pTistious for Spectators. He must
know, vita his fretful experience in
dnpOslng OF legislative appropriations,
how utterly impracticable It would be
for the State TO assume the paternai iE
making public roads.
Another noticeable feature or the
discussion elected on the subject OF
improving our Pennsylvania roads WAS
the general desire OF the advocates OF
good roads that the State should pay
for them and that the people who use
them should have reduced taxes with
Increased expenditures from the pubic
treasury for their special benefit. In
short, the popular theory Of the rural
champions OF good roads seems TO be
that the State must make their roads
and that others who would not use the
improved roads must pay the taxes to
construct them. They point TO the
cities and half incline to the plan OF
taxing the cities 10 make the country
roads, obviously forgetful that the
properties or the cities are taxed vastly
more for their own highways and other
needed Improvements than any rural
section OF the 5 ate. Philadelphia pays
S1.S5 for evero 500 OF real property at
fair cash valuation. and where is
there such tax exacted from the rural
land owner +?
There is only one way to get good
roads in Pennsylvania and that is for
every Community TO make them for lis
own people. There could be no other
reasonable expenditure to promise such
Jeuihcent results for the outlay as the
expenditure for good roads in every 10
caiity, Good roads increase the value
of farms and village properties vast Iy
/ beyond their cost they save to the
/ farmers and others who Use them, In
economy OF horsepower and in wear
and tear OF teams aud wagons, i'm
mensely over their cost each year, and
every consideration o. interest and
4 comfort calls upon every rural com
/ munity 10 revolutionizs It's road system
and make road Improvement q matter
| OF practical business, instead of the
/ present faTcical system by which taxes
are hTss reduced To the lowest point and
I then wasted by the mnckery of work
/ ing Out taxes under a Supervisor who
/ dare not offend the people who elect
him.
/ The one way TO get roads in Penn
/ -ylyania is for each township to pick
/ out It's most intelligent and progressive
I citizen and elect him Supervisor, with
the understanding that he must devote
his :ime ard ;he liberal cash taxes of
! the people in making good roads
When the people Of one OF the towns
ships of Montgomery county elected a.
/ j. Cassatt Supervisor OF Roads, they
made the best possible investment.
They gagged some what at bis expendi-
lures, but they DOW have the best road {,
the largest increase of the value of
property. and the greatest economy and
comfort in the use OF their teams of
any community it the State. There
are few townships which have a Cas-
satt to call to the SupervisorshIp of
/ roads, but every township that picks
out the nearest approach il has to him
for Supervisor, will get the cheapest
and the BEST roads and the largest pro-
hts from their taxes. The State cannot
make roads. The people may be de-
luded by deDsgogic politicians into an
! opposite belief. but there will be no i'm.
I provenent in Pennsylvania roads until
! the people buckle d0wn to their own
interests and make good roads for
/ themselves. .-Phild. Times.