The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1892-08-11
Francis B. Thurber, of New
York, Speaks to the
Point and
Road Building,
Under Scaled Bids.

sWhy didn't somebody think Of it
before?" Is always the exclamation
whenever highly useful and
necessary thing for everybody is
suggested by somebody; and this is
what feel like saying when think
of the enormous amount that has been
wasted in the way of money, time and
effort in this country, by every citizen
in overcoming the difficulties
presented by bad roads, and why
somebody has not thought of a con
certed study of the subject and con
certed discussion of it before is a
puzzling question.
A good road enables the farmer to
drive to town twice as quickly and
with half the effort that is required on
bad one, and it enables his team to
haul twice or perhaps thrice the load
that can be hauled over the ordinary
dirt road in seasons Of inclement
weather
This difference between good and
bad road may even mean to him the
difference between life and death for
his loved ones in the fetching Of a
doctor, or it may simply mean the
difference between profit and loss in
the operation Of his farm; for by the
use Of good roads, as experience has
demonstrated wherever roads have
been used, farm can be operated
profitably twice as far from the town
or railway station as it otherwise
could be.
To the merchant, good roads mean
the ability to trade over wider area
of country, the exemption from the
dull periods so often experienced on
account of ssbad roads," more eco
nomical operation of his business in
the receipt and delivery of his goods,
and an additional sense of comfort,
which every one experiences in driving
over road which is free from mud
and stones. The same considerations,
to a greater or less degree, affect the
, physician, the clergyman, the lawyer
r and indeed every citizen who has
/ reason to use the common roads, ol
whose business or welfare is in any
! way connected with or dependent
/ upon their use; for good roads are
. important, and in many cases
y absolutely necessary to the poore
t people who have to walk, and Il
whom it is an important consideration
to be able to go to church, to th
post Office or to the village store, with
out wading through mud or dust. Il
the same sense it is true for th
school children, especially those i
the country, who are often compelle
to walk long distances to attend th
public schools.
| was born and brought up as
farmers boy, and daring my life
= the country have helped to work til
- roads in Spring, and know how the
are kept in order or rather not kel
L in order, in most Of the countr
. districts.
a have studied this question SOM
le what, and do not hesitate to state II
y opinion that our bad roads are large
due to the system generally pursue
as in working them, namely, Il
in voluntary days work or "labor ta'
lis system. and ] do not think we shs
he ever have business-like der
i'd onstration Of highway laws uni
es the road tex is paid into the gener
ke treasury and expended on busine
by system, requiring the work to be do
d. under sealed bids and according
'st specifications drawn by experts, n
omitting the requirements OF re
is ponsible bondsnIen to secure the d
, a carving out Of the contracts.
He this system, carried on under the e
nut of an enlightened puplic, the co
ng missioner of roads, or other pub
es- officer having the work in chars
,u- would be stimulated to hold cC
es, tractors up to an honest performaI
nd of their duties.
igs Road contracts should be let fo
ire term of years 20 secure the best w
ritz at the lowest prices, for pc, 2"
tractor can afford 60 put