The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1892-06-11
Competitive Essay.
GOOD ROADS.

Respectable rOaQ6, Wherever the
wants of country demand them
and the wisdom Of the people keep
them, are a great influence in the
speedy development and general
progress of the localities they make
accessible. Though rude trails and
rough, temporary wagon roads, such
as the hardy pioneers work out by
blazing through tho forests and cor
duroying the swamps, may answer
to give the balance Of the world an
linking of natures rich stores in
some otherwise inaccessible region,
yet it is necessary that such means
should be followed by more sub
stantial highways before the signs
of real progress and civilization are
stamped upon the country.
Good mountain roads, kept either
by private corporations or public
government, are still the main and
often the only dependence for inter-
course with the rest of the nation
in many parts of the great north
west.
Those who, in early days, may
have endured the rough experience
of trip by mountain stage from
Salt Lake City to Helena, distance
of five hundred miles, or who may
more recently have endeavored to
reach some intermountain point in
Wyoming, Idaho, or Nevada, can
fully appreciate the meaning to
those regions of the condition in
which their wagon thoroughfares
may be kept.
Railways now seem to cross
nearly every acre of this broad
earth, but the value and Importance
of first-class highways is still un-
questioned in every civilized land.
The farm, the mine, the inland vii
lage are supplied by wagon trans
portation, and even the drays and
carriages of the cities continue to
be as essential to the traffic and
travel of the land as the steam and
electric cars. All the goods and
wares of the worlds consumption
must by such means find their final
and usefulness.
Whether the rafting cobbles of
an ancient city, the mires of unim-
proved country roads or the turn
pixies and macadamized ways of
more progressive districts are best
for country's growth and comfort
is readily answered by many exam
Piles of both conditions in America.
The road overseer and the street
commissioner are important Offices
nowadays, and enterprising people
are quick to manifest their disap-
prevail of any neglect or failure on
the part of such servants of the
public. The taxpayer who grum-
bles at the burden of his assess
ment and yearly expends greater
amount for wagon repairs and other
effects of bad roads in his locality,
which, in his short-sightedness, he
permits to take care of themselves,
is pursuing a penny wise and
pound foolish" policy. The writer
is an Idahoan and is proud to say
that the roads in the new State are
at least credit9ble.
With the exception of one railway
north and south and one east and
west in the body of the State,
all our transportation is carried on
by means of stages and immense
mule teams-ten to twenty mules
and three large covered wagons
"team." These out
its load with nearly a car load of
freight each, and ply between the
railway points and the mining
camps, from fifty to over one hun
ired and fifty miles in the interior
,fthe State. Those immense wagons
grind the earth in a manner that is
! severe test of the mountain roads,
,ut fortunately these are wheel and
weather. proof; they must be. If the
state or county is unable to make
hem so, private corporations are
generally on hand with capital, and
alter, toll gate.
The roads of Idaho are first-class
throughout the state, and vehicles
If whatever kind usually find it a
pleasure to travel over them. Hard
,ravel ways in the valleys and bed
'ock grades over the mountain
anges, no mud, no obstacles, and
tut seldom dust, is a fair descrip-
ion of them in brief, and in many
ocalities it has cost many thous-
Lnds of dollars to make them so.
In conclusion it is but just to say
hat no community which is not
live and up to the Importance of
,ood roads can reasonably hope to |
hare equally with more enterpris-
ny districts the attention of home
eekers and capital.
GEORGE r. EAsLEY.
Onions for Coughs and Colds.
There is no remedy that acts more