The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1892-09-08
amid RICHES WE ARE POOR.
Col. ]. A. Pierce, Vice-Pres-
ident Of the National
Board of Trade,
Dep1ores Road Poverty.

Wherever there is great public
highway, there Is civilization, pros
perity, value, cultivation. Isolation
Of communities is barbarism. The
man who first placed log across a
stream, corduroyed a marsh or leveled
crag, took the first step towards
civilization. He deserves mon
ument.
The question of road making is no
less question of civilization to-day.
The greatest physical issue of the
future is that of roads and roads
building. America is farthest be-
hind of all the nations considering
the great country and its infinite
resources, we do not contrast well
with the conditions of darker con-
tinents. Compare our systems OF
highways with those of Great Britain,
of France, of Norway, of Germany
and of Italy, if you please, and our
patriotic fervor must diminish most
discouragingly.
In our haste to be prosperous,
well-to-do, rich, we have rushed along
the lines of selfish interest, of
monopolies and of aggrandizements,
and colossal fortunes have been the
cynosure, the attraction and the
reward of our genius and our toll.
We have, in consequence, the grand
est private estates, the most brilliant
corporate establishments and a
bewildering railway development
and yet with all we sink back
desperately near to a point that is a
sad reflection on our pride, when we
: contemplante the public ways between
, the towns and through the rural
districts of the entire country. We
, appear to have forgotten the grand
principle that civilization is a result
, of the ease and readiness with which
| the race communicates and in
terchanges with itself We have
s been too apt to purr at the praise
with which our success has been note(
o and so lose for ourselves the catcl
e before Us.
1t is Iamentable fact, that mus
e be regretfully acknowledged, tina
h American enthusiasm responds all to-
readily to the prick of self-interest
Y and to this end it endures the sacrific
le of important public considerations
like a spur, it excites all tn
magnificent energy and prolongs tn
most stupendous effort of this mosai
of races and this wild cosmopolita
condition. Perhaps it is threatenin
IN IN the Republic, for it is depopulatin
u the country and over-crowding tf
city.
III Plato gave us republic founde
az upon sentiment; the Arcadia
1e Sydney is but dream; real republic
represent the selfishness of the man
'' as monarchies represent the selfisI
~ ness of the few, who shall probab
II never be able to crystalize upon Il
I'll sentiment or to materialize on Il
re dream; yet we can modify, contr
~ and direct the selfshness of the maj
'e- by the agitation and education
selfish instincts.
NC AS our cities are growing to thu
''e own detriment as against the evide
do opposite tendency of the count
ne districts, it is only question of til
Gu when the climax will be reached
ger disaster. A parallel statement
ne regard to the growth of public ent'
5o' prise at the expense and sacrifice
~, the means of communication, a
CT hence the lack of growth in
TX country may be asserted with foi
on' and may pass without successful CO
No- tradiction. If we would save
eau value of the farm, preserve the sta
Vi population of the rural distric
you attention must be given to the seriC
ill., condition that confronts us. Pull
III thought Esust be stimulated VI
Is the subject and public action m
my be demanded.
IL Road legislation in the Uni
tir- States is about as inefficient as it
KY, be. The necessity of a q
five development in the improvement
er a country roads is. not yet fl
annreciatefl What we have eyhibi