Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-04-05
CIVILIZED ROADS

The higher civilization Of good roads
cannot be too often and too strongly
preached in this republic. Improved
carriage roads, such highways as are
the wonder and delight Of every Ameri-
can who goes to Europe, are what we
want. 1t matters not much how we get
them, whether by the state laying its ty-
rant hand upon the good old rustic Gus
tom of working the roads" and taking
charge Of the matter itself, OF whether
by few enthusiasts in each neighbor
hood arousing public sentiment 10 the
increased value property would have
whereabouts, and so persuading individ-
uais to move in the matter ANY way
or anyhow, good roads we must have in
this country.
The states themselves are becomins
awakened slowly to the need, and sew
eral bold governors have warmly fought
for civilized highways by message and
otherwise. Any neighborhood can have
good roads. There are books written in
abundance telling just how these can be
made-boOks that anybody can under
stand. If a farmer could not induce his
nelghbors to join him in building re-
spectacle roads, he could make high.
dry and beautiful the highway passing
his own Land certainly. The increased
value such highway would put upon
his farm would be impressive enough in
one way, while the increased beauty of
his grounds would be quite as impressive
in another.
If you want to build up your place
and cut up the farms into town lots and
sell them to city people, build good
roads. Colonel Alfred Pope, writing in
The Forum, tells us that bad roads force
people to live in cities, while good roads
draw them into the country. 1t makes
a great difference whether You can drive
to a railway station in FIVE minutes or
whether it shall take you fifteen, and
that Is the difference between a bad
highway and good one The increased
cost Of transportation on a wretched
highway is more than sufficient to pay
for smooth, hard driveway. And the
cost of transportation is one of the most
serious problems at present confronting
us in this big country.
Colonel Pope has a plan Of his own
for improving our highways, and it is as
follows:
would have each state by legislative en-
aetment do at once two or three things IN the
direction Of this movement, viz: Procure and
disseminate information by establishing a bu-
reau where the facts relating to the expense.
mechanical construction, care, durability. use
and extent Of the different kinds Of roads shall
be known and ascertained, then would have
some Kind of state supervision and advisory
assistance by competent engineer or engin-
eers appointed by the state in aid Of road and
bridge building and repairing upon scientific
principles and upon a comprehensive and econ
omical plan for the whole state; thirdly |
would have the state either own or control
and maintain some through highways, con-
Meeting the principal towns in the state, and
connecting these with the principal towns of
nesghboring States where they are most need.
81, either for great public exigencies or for the
greatest general use.
The state would thus promote the eoualiza-
ton and the general reduction Of expense OF
construction and maintenance Of these main
roads, and would give profitable example and
strong incentive 10 the adjacent towns TO
construct better oontributory roads as feeders
TO the main Or's. l would have the state divide
the expenses Of this scheme Of road betterment
in the tax levy so that part oft should be appor
toned TO the whole state, part TO the counties |
through which the roads ran and part TO the |
towns. And, further, would have this tax |
levy kept small, and the investment adequate
and quickly made by the business mans /
method Of borrowing the money on long loans |
IL would thus be easily paid out Of the profits |
by those sharing them.