Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1891-09-05

centuries In waking up 10 the 'alus Of
GOOD highways; the United StaSes 10 -
vet far behind the most backward Eu-
ropean countries, and yet wherever the
state or the city or the town has under
taken TO secure good roads,
there has been an immediate
public response that amply compen-
stated for the outlay. In New Hampshire
and in Pennsylvania the governors have
publicly advocated the improvement OF
the common roads. Not long ago the
attention OF the Legislature OF New York
was called TO this matter. In other
states the public necessity has been
perceived. II NAV seem that the rail-
roads have superseded the common
roads, but there is an indefinite amount
of short travel which the railroads can
not touch, and great part Of the local
prosperity OF the country depends upon
The facility with which the CITY mar
kets can be reached BY the farmers who
live from ten to twenty miles out OF
town. 1t is to-day q problem OF increas-
| ing Importance to make quick business
connections, and there is nothing like
| the facility OF intercourse between The
town and the country 10 build up trade.
The civil engineer, Mr.. Isaac j. Potter,
gives. in the Engineering Magazine,
many statistics TO show the quick in
crease in the value OF property that
could be reached by improved high
WAYS. He states that the improvement
in the roads OF the country could DO al
most paid for BY the saving Of money TO
the farmers and others in the expense
OF teams that are required, in excessive
mum bers. 10 overcome the friction OF
bad roads in transror tation.
1t is not question OF pleasure, but
one OF serious economic Importance,
that our roads, especially the great
thoroughiarcs through the country,
should be built and maintained in the
same STYLE in which they exist in Eng.
land or on the continent. The unani-
; nifty among the great nations OF Eu-
rope in maintaining the common roads
at the highest possible grade OF excel
lence is a remarkable testimony to
their sense OF their value, and the time
has come when their destiny OF our
own population, and the economic inn
portance OF easy and quick communica'
, ton by roads from one part OF the coun-
try to another cannot be any longer
kept out OF sight II we had put one
tenth the money into good roads in
, New England which we have put into
| railroads all over the country, We
should not now be troubled with the de-
. caying districts and the dwindling oil
. the small towns: at least the New Eng
land farmers would have had an en-
couragement TO stay AZ home which wa
not presented TO them at the time Of
the great openings in the west. Nc
, one begrudges the railroads, but before
, we can develop any part OF the United
/ States as it may be developed, we musi
| increase and improve the common
roads by which the people are brought
into close and immediate relations
The American farmers and Legislators
r are slow to be convinced that these inn
proved common roads are capable o.
. making adequate returns for the ex
l pense incurred by the state or towns II
D constructing them. but the experience
. everywhere In Europe Is thal
t these splendid roads practically bint
D the different parts OF the country to
gether into q lively social common
wealth. In the face Of this large ex
perience, and OF our growing population
1t Is not possible for us to give too mucl
n attention to our great common thor
oughfares. Chicago Herald.