Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-04-04

Tie higher civilization OF good roads
cannot be too often aud too strongly
preached In this republic. Improved
carriage roads, such highways as are
the wonder and delight Of every Amcri-
can who goes TO Europe. arc what we
want. II matters not much how We get
them, whether by tho state laying it ty.
rant hand upon the good old rustic Gus
tom Of working tho roads" aUd taking
charge Of the matter itself, or whether
by iow enthusiasts in each noighbor-
hood lrouins public sentiment to tho
increased value property would have
thcreabouts, and so persuading individ-
unls 10 move in tho mattcr Any way
or anyhow, good roads We must have IN
this country.
Tho states themselves arc becoming
awakened slowly to the need, and SOW.
oral bold governors have warmly fought
for civilized highways by message and
otherwise. Any ncighborhood can have
good roads, There are books written in
abundance telling just how these can be
male-books that anybody can under
stand. II a farmer could not induce his
noighhors 20 Join him in building 10
spectacle roads. he could make high,
dry aud beautiful the highway passing
his own lnnd certainly. Tho increased
value such a highway would put upon
his rarm would be impressive enough IN
ono way, while the increased beauty Of
his ground, would be quite as impressive
in another.
II you want 20 build up your place
and cut mp the fu7ns into town lots and
.ell them to city people, build good
roads Colonel Alfred Pope, writing in
The Forum, tells MS that bad roads force
people 10 live Ia cities, while good roads
draw thom into the country. 1t makes
great difference whether you can drive
TO a railway station in livo minutes on
whether II shall tal,o you fifteen and
that is tho difference between bad
highway aud good one. The increased
cost of transportation on a wrctched
highway is moro thnn sufficient 10 pay
for u smooth, hard driveway. And tho
cost of transportation Is ono of the most
serious problems at present confronting
us in this big country.
Colonel popo has plan of his own
for improving our highways, and IL is rs
follows.
! would have each state by legislative on.
notmCut do at once two or three things IN the
| direction of this movement, Wis Procure and
| disseminate Information by cstnblishinga Ou'
irau where the fuots relating 20 tho expense,
iuuohnnicnl construction, care, durability, use
and extent Of che different kinds OF roads shall
! be- known aud nstOrlaiugd; theu wuuld have
| some kind NJ state supervision aud advisory
| assistance By competent engineer or eugin.
,ara appointed by tho state 10 aid Of road and
brldgo building aud repairing upon scientific
/ principles aud upon a comprehensive aud econ
omich plan for the whole state; thirdly |
would have the state either own or control
| aud maintain some through highways, con-
| Meeting tho principal town. Ia the state, and
| connecting these with the principal towns NJ
| nrighhoring state, whore they are most need.
| Oh, either for great public eHigUuoes OF lur the
| greatest general use.
Tho ntatc would thus promote tho cqunliga-
ton aud iho general reduction OF oNpouso ul
| construction mud maintenance Of these main
roads, aud would Fltca profitable example and
strong NEGATIVE to the ndiaoont tuNus "a
construct batter oontrihutnry roads as fccloia
| 20 tho malu oncs would have the state divide
thesSpous cs NJ this scheme 81 road hetterurni
IN thot aX levy IN that part OF should be Appor
lipuul tn tho whole state, Part To tho counties
through which the tpnds ran and part 10 thu
towns. And, further, would have this tax
levy kopt small, and tho iuyc8lmont adequate
and guicbly made by the business mans
tpfflrtI nj lnrrltgiUlf fhH money uu long llama
u would thus be tns.iy paid out u tho profits
| Ia tltpap a. arluu thrfu