Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-17
REvoLur1oN1zED BY GOOD Roads
Tho Imperative Demand OF the Industrial
Conditions Of Civilization.
Chica Inter.Ocaup

SOuultlOuS Oh ClVluzatIous
Chicago Inter-Ocean.l
Something like appreciation of the i'm
portance OF good roads in their practical
I uses is aroused in the minds Of the farmers,
merchants and all people who have to do
with or are in any way dependent upon
teaming. When in spring the condition OF
rural roads tnterferes with the getting Of
produce to market the Inconvenience and
loss would seem to be sufficient incentive
to the construction OF roads that would be
serv1ceable at all seasons OF the year. just
now there is complaint of obstructed trans
portarion, as there has been every spring
these 20 years, and the complaint is made
against bad roads, as though they we're a
vital evil animated by vicious motives that
ought to be ashamed Of themselves and in a
spirit OF coutrition reform and do better. 1t
is foolish to have bad roads against which to
rail, for the reason that there is greater
loss to the people at large by reason
OF bad roads than would be the
sum OF 5udfcious expenditure to secure
good roads throughout the populated
country. People are beginning to under
stand this and the art of road building that
the old Romans knew SO we'll and ap-
preciated so thoroughly is engaging at.
systepatically constructed, the farmer could
haul larger loads more expeditously, thereby
securing q larger profit on his produce,
u
tear; suburban and rural population would
increase by reason of the facility and con.
venience OF travel between those districts
and the city; there would be less necessity
for farmers and others to live contiguous to
railroads; rural congestion would be re-
lieved; rides. walks and drives into the
country would become the pleasantest OF
physical recreations, and in o multitude OF
ways the general society would be benefited,
and industrial interests would correspond
Defective and bad roads are the result Of
mistaken notion as to the cost Of con-
structing and maintaining first class roads.
Objections OF this sort are traversed by Al
bert A. Poe in an article In the Forum, and
disposed Of effectualy: For obvious reasons
everyone in the State Is interested in all tho
roads of the State, and for that reason, Mr..
Poe urges, the State should require all its
citizens to contribute their due proportion
to the construction and management OF these
roads. He says: II would have the State
divide the expenses of this scheme of road
betterment in the tax levy, so that part OF
It should he apporttoned to the whole State.
part to the counties through which the road
this tax levy kept small and the investment
adequate and quickly made by the business
mans method of borrowing the money on
long loans. 1t would thus be easily paid out
of the profits by thus sharing them" Farm
their tax, and the distribution of the tax
would be such as to make the per capata in
considerable as compared with the great in
crease of benefits to the individual from q
system of thoroughly good roads ramifying
neighboring States for traffic between
towns. The suggestion is one worthy the
consideration of the various State Legis-
latures, especially in well settled States.
Some such scheme is the imperative demand
OF our industrial conditions and of our grow
ing civilization.