The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1892-12-02
WHY WE HAVE BAD ROADS.
The Indifference Of the ruhlic More h.
uiame Than Existing Laws

IiiAmt Iuhh s-Ntr''"S LAWS
There Is undeniably want felt in Ii.
for better public highways
The subject il now generally agitated
II has been brought by the chief cxecn.
tive officers of dozen different Natesi.
the attention Of their several legisls.
tures. IL has received intcllgein anl
careful consideration at the hands a
commissioners, OF experts appointed
especially for the purpose, Of commit.
tees of several OF our legislature ana
Of the legislators themselves. II must
be confessed-in spite Of all that has
been said, OF all the study that has bee,
given 20 the subject and of all the efln
10 reach practical conclusions = tha
nothing generally satisfactory has
vet been attained. The main difficulty
In the case is perhaps 10 be found, na
In the inherent de 'pcts of present law:
or in the inability o. Legislators - make
better ones, but in the indiHcrenced
the general public upon the subject
Every member of society is interested
in the public road. AT birth, at death
and at all intermediate points during
life it il used, TO a greater or less degree,
by or for every individual member Of 10
eiety 1t carries the doctor to the bd.
side of the sick, the minister 10 admins
ter consolation to the dying, friends tc
the house of mourning and the dead 70
their graves. IL brings purchaser and
consumer together. 1t Is the avenue
alike Of pleasure and traffic. The farme
seeking his market, the commercial ira'.
aler looking for customers, the million
ARE in search of enjoyment with hs
coach and four, the whcelman IN pursuit
of health, the few seeking pleasure q
profit on wheels and the many III Ike
pursuits on football are interested inth
public road.
And vet. direct and immediate u |
these interests are, we are content III
follow the methods Of half century 81
more ago. to submit to inconyenience. q
discomfort and to the immense waste q
money and patience. not because we a
NOT admit the advantages Of u good roal
over bad enc, not because we cannd
see, in theory at least. thas soho
smooth. level road which allows me
farmer to convey to market twice Al
much with half the power i adyania|
neous to him; not because /. cannot q
clearly demonstrated that IN the en-
Nbecarse Of the saving in annual refair|
and The saving Of waste III NehNles|
il ,rsefesh. harness and the lNe) soo
roal Ia cheaper than poor one-for u
> these things are distinctly and fully al
mitted by those who have given carer
!. study To the subjcct--but because pfel
5 dice, opposition to change ana lna|
K ference control the masses Of our pe0i
and dictate the course Of legislation
n In tho discussion Of the road qucSV
one Of tho most popular ana oit gu
:. remarks is that relating - tue eNlue'
Of The civilization Of country when
"a roads exhibit. Ii il not question
IL civilization. however, and we have
vet reached the point when we can -
= view il FROM the aesthetic side. II
r. question Of the simplest, conmp
to most practical business sense. ltrcA
70 tho everyday life Of every man, W.
a. and child in every community
az MS who advocate u reform In the III
ed of LAYING out. constructing ana rel|
w ing our public roads must show, ana
re responsible for showing. 70 our pe|
In that their direct and immediate III
sw ,iarv interests are involved. and wil
~, subserved by radical change III
be department OF road management
il il not impossible for Us to hops
to some Improvement, even under
sts present unsatisfactory laws, III Ger
on favored localities An example ~
res which viii appeal to orr readers VII
lat convey tho impression desired 70 se p
ial Mr.. A. j. Cassatt, whose country
yes dence is in Montgomery county ad
ing Philadelphia, was a few year
cry elected-probably partly as lose
les partly in the hope Of securing the %
md Of his knowledge and experience
IN supervisor for the township IN VIII
uc- lived. To the surprise Of many ~
la cepted the position, levied the "
ms, amount Of tax allowed under the
all summoned his neighbors and SCI
ner voluntary contributions from those
and were interested like himself III
our roads for driving purposes, ana "
suit during his official term secut'
that township the best common foa
= Pennsylvania.
Another gentleman in one OF gay
urbs of Philadelphia, anxious 70
'or fit his kind and TO secure for ms
nd bors the greatest comfort ana
fence in everyday life, located
|. out and built at his own expense
se- two miles Oh model public roau
in he presented to the municipai
which he lived.
%, AS to the practical results
l.. from the improvements Just reiei
18th there have been undoubted en-
On ment of the value of real estate
49,. Aux of desirable population an
largest possible increase TO the 6
and convenience of all the pei
those regions who make use 81
NTH roads. II good road, thorough
4 structed, will endure for "a
resi- wears VITA ordinary repairs, whs|
sons ter monument can man VINO VT
Dsact benefit his kind raise to ms III
ny OF how can he contribute to the wei
his fellows more fully and for
I the period. anu how better perpetu'|
titled memory than by following the 9
Of the gentleman last mentloh'
nv giving his own name to the roo