Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-09-16
BETTER ROADS.
A WESTERN JUDGES DISCUSSION
OF A GREAT QUESTION.
What the Government and Congress
Might Do for Better Thor
oughfares-The States Part
in the Good Work.

. Iowa, for the promotion of
better country roads. The convention
was welcomed by Governor Boies and
Judge Z. II. Thayer, of the Clinton Age,
was made Chairman. Judge Thayer, in
the course Of his address, said
in the carly days of the Republic
several millions of dollars were spent by
tie Government in building public
roads. When the present system OF rail-
road building was inaugurated the wagon
road gave way to the railroad, until now
the country is gridironed with rails, and
yet to reach the primary markets to ad-
vantage and for one community to do
business with another, good roads are
more essential than when there were no
railroads and when the Government was
engaged in road building. That the
Government will again turn its attention
TO assisting the States in building roads
can hardly be a debatable question.
The Constitution provides that "Con-
gress shall have power to establish post
offices and postroads." 1t has appropri-
ated millions of dollars from the public
treasury for establishing postroads.
There is not IA inhabitant Of Iowa but
is entitled to have his mail brought to
his home, no matter whether he lives in
the country Or in the city. 1t is graft
fying to know that the free delivery
system is being extended to the
small towns, although the postmaster
generally writes that enlarged free
delivery, or anything like universal flee
delivery will have to be postponed urtil
there are better facilities OF communica.
ton through the rural and sparsely set
tied districts" Just so. But must the
State and the county and the township
be required to make these "better faclli-
ties" by the expenditure OF vast sums OF
money, and then invite the Government
to put mail carriers on theml That can
not be the meaning Of the Constitution.
To establish postroads must mean some
thing else than merely using the roads
for postal service after someone else has
built them. Iowa, however, will not
ask the Government to build these roads
alone, but it should ask it tc help do
this great work.
Let the State be asked to take a part
in this grand improvement. The sum Of
s., 5,O00,0 900 for great, prosperous,
wealthy and growing State like Iowa will
hardly be felt by the taxpayer. In fact,
taxes need not be increased cne single
mill A three per cent. bond caa be
voted by the people and negotiated at
par. Does any person start at this sug.
restionl II so he don't live where Ae
has to travel a very long distance with
team over the average Iowa road during
either Of what should be the most busy
months Of the year. If he is shocked by
this proposition he is not ripe for better
roads.
If to issue bonds to the amount sug-
gcstc for an object OF the greatest pos
,ible value to the State at large, and an
object which could not otherwise be at.
tained, will not in the time the bonds
are to run and the interest and principal
arc to be paid increase taxation, but, on
the contrary, reduce it, is not business
like, wise aud economical to create the
debtl This is the plainest kind of a
business proposition, and must be settled
on business principles.
Authorize the cities to vote aid to the
roads, and allow the councils to appro.
pirate the money for use in any part OF
the county, instead of now limiting the
expenditure to within three miles of the
city limits. The larger cities, as n gen.
cral thing, are approached from the
country by hilly roads, aud these, aud as
often will be the case, other roads, for
one, two or more miles, twenty or more
miles from the city whose market is
sought to DE reached will cost more to
construct than the local tax will pay for.
The roads requiring such aid are just as
essential as any in the county, and if not
bu'lt they present barrier IN the way Of
the advantageous use Of long stretch
Of road reached.
Public opinion is rapidly crystalliziug
in favor of government and in building
country roads. It would be inconss-
tent TO ask such aid in behalf Of State
without the State profering similar as
sistance. The State must expect the
support of the county, the township and
the city, and hence have grouped to.
gether all these factors becIuse | con
slider the cooperation OF all of them as
essential to carrying out any general
plan Of road building which shall be
worthy of State effort.
One plan would be for the State Elk.
ecutive Board 20 divide the State into
three or five road districts, the territory
of each to be a, nearly equal in area as
may be convenient. Let the Board APP
point ore person from each district to be
known as the District Road Commission
er-thc usual division politically to be
observed in making the appointments.
These persons TO constitute a State
Board of Road Commissioners, who shall
have the general supervision Of the con-