Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1891-01-23
STATE WAGON ROADS.
Some "Glittering General
tiles" OH the Subject Of
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
For the Consideration of Our
State Legislators.

1t is a truism that Transportation is
the most vital part of commerce." Fa-
cility of transportation is the most i'm
portant interest to any community. 1t
is, indeed, to the community. what
blood is to the human body. Without
it the resources of the state remain un-
developed The minerals remain in the
mines, the forests of timber remain un-
Cut; grain, and hay and fruit cannot be
raised for export; manufactures, to any
considerable extent, cannot exist; trade
is necessarily limited; cities do not
grow; the community languishes in
slumberous non-progression. Our state
is to-day full of illustrations of this fact.
Let wagon roads be built and the life
current begins to circulate. The mines
are opened. the forests are felled, the
soil is cultivated, manufactures are
started. cities grow, the community
prospers, wealth increases, new enter-
prises are undertaken, new industries
spring up. labor is stimulated, wages are
certain, there Is multiplication of the
avenues and sources from which wealth
is created. and civilization reigns.
Without wagon roads. climate, soil, po-
sitica, mineral wealth and unbounded
resources may favor the progress of
wealth. and yet the state be poor. The
richest mining camp in the world is the
20 10 1,aa ~
This new state of Idaho, with its un-
rivaled resources, is just beginning to
feel the impulse of the new life infused
into it by the lymph of self-government.
Our population is rapidly augmenting,
the older regions are already compare
lively thickly settled, and large tracts
of fertile country are only waiting fol
wagon road communication to be occu-
pied and cultivated by the new comers.
AS these roads are built they will be
followed by these enterprising and en-
ergetic home seekers to carve homes
and fortunes for themselves from the
hidden treasures of the public domain,
With a network of wagon roads-:ccm-
mercial rteries-connecting the remote
sections of the state, we firmly believe
and confidently assert that our beloved
Idaho will enter upon such an era of
development, with its attendant in.
crease Of wealth. as will eclipse the
growth of any of the mountain states.
In some instances these wagon roads
will be quickly followed by railroads,
with the swift development which ac-
companies rapid transit.
Facility of transportation and commu.
nication are the means by which the
industries of Idaho can be stimulated
and its wealth increased. 1t is therefore
of the first importance that the state
legislature should provide for the con-
struction Of such wagon roads as are
needed by the growing necessities of
the state, and which the counties most
directly interested are prohibited from
building by the constitutional limita-
ton of the amount of their indebted
ness. Every legitimate industry in the
state will be benefited by the inaugura-
ton of such policy. The money will
be expended and circulated among our
own people. And it is important to re-
member that the Indebtedness thereby
incurred will be redeemed by taxes on
valuations that do not now exist and on
persons who are not now residents o.
the state. All portions of our state will
be joined, not only in the profitable EN-
brace of trade, but in that closer inter
course which will dissolve existent sec
tional antagonisms and unite the citi
zens in the bonds of peace and good
will. From one end of the state to tn,
other the benefcent effects of such
policy of internal Improvements will b,
felt and its advantages realised. N,
better period can be imagined than tn
present for the Inauguration of this pol
icy of internal Improvements, and tn
solons of the first state legislature by s.
doing will leave behind them an imper
ishable monument of their wisdom an,
progressive spirit.
The ancient cities of the world ar
renowned for their arts and their arms
The fame of their sculpture and archi
lecture is imperishable. Their con
quests were glor ious. their scholars GU
tured, their poets and orators incompal
able. Their works are emblazoned o
the pages of history. But while we ar
largely indebted to their brilliant exam
: Piles in literature and science for sue
: excellence as we have attained, we fec
! constrained to say that more endurin
a monuments than their works of art rs
a main for US to contemplate. Th
e Appian Way will be remembered whe
i the name of Cato is forgotten, and th
J, great roads of Rome are more lastin
e reminders of her greatness than tn
J. conquest of Gaul or the fame of Cesar.
:. Splendid as were their achievements /
$ arms, their material Improvements i
their conquered territories are better n
\ membered than the battles OF warriors
q Their causeways and roads are the MOI
It enduring monuments of their glor,
g Facilitating trade, thev create industr
IS and wealth; promoting intercourse, ths
/ abolish differences Of opinion; embracin
is remote sections and antagonistc pc,
i Piles, they establish harm my, unit
and homooepitv