Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1893-11-30
4 MATTER OF FINANCE.
Construction of Good Roads Valuable for
Both Labor and Capital

Construction of Good Roads Valuable for
Both Labor and Capital.
All civilized and seni-barbarous ma
tions recognize the fact that the la
borer must have employment A peo-
pies prosperity S based IN man earn
ing something Wars have been waged
to give idle men something to do This
republic, by engaging in legitimate en-
terprises alone, has been able to fur
nish employment to its great mass Of
worl1ingmen. But has not this con-
tinent come face to face with the labor
problem which the old world has
sought in vain to solve for centuries?
Have not the larger enterprises, such
as railroads, mines and the leading in
dustries. nearly reached the limit of
their capacity and proftableness?
While the nation may continue to pros
per and grOv. IN wealth and population,
is it not reaching that point when
something besides the natural course
of things is essential to furnish employ
ment to labor? As the country energies
from the crisis which has left mass of
meritorious workingEnen on the shoals
in compulsory idleness and made their
lot the most uncomfortable of all who
have suffered from the business depres-
sion the great truth confronts us that
the problem now TO solve is how best
to furnish them employment
While I do not claim TO lay before
your association a solution of the ques-
ton in its entirety, l believe the plan
that have to suggest is of that FEAST
BILE nature that it can be carried out to
accomplish grand results in that di-
rection. Conservative and reliable
statisticians estimate the cost of bad
roads in this country at more than
$3.50, 600 per year. This vast sum
some body must lose. Probably it is di-
vided quite equally among all the peo-
Pile in proportion to each individuals
expenditures. For this reason it is no
less a loss, and for this reason the
necessity is all the greater for stopping
the loss. Add to a scheme for saving
that amount another for furnishing
employment to the idle million, and
here IS a project worthy the advanced
civilization of the age.
It is not a question Of increased taxa
vantage the money annually contrib
uted By the people for road purposes.
1t is within bounds to put the sum
spent each year in the maintenance of
country roads at $50, 600, COO As a rule
the $50, 100000 goes each year to keep
company with the $3.50, 900 600 dcvoured
by mud. Undertaken at an early day
in twenty-five years every mile Of road
commonly used by the public and made
a thoroughfare 10y law, save perhaps in
tie thinly-settled portion Of some OF
the far western states or in the more
mountainous regions, could be built
with stone OF gravel, made durable and
permanent, always in condition every
day in the week, upon which d full
wagon load of produce or merchandise
could be hauled and without the pay
ment Of dollar additional tax. Skill
full fnanciering and intelligent invest
ment Of the taxes now paid will do this
and the cost, principal and interest, be
bquidated inside Of five years, putting
the rate Of interest at g per cent EN-
ployment VIII be furnished the surplus
labor of the land, the money of the
people kept in circulation, aud unprece-
dcnted thrift and prosperity 20 hand in
hand with The prosecution of the work,
followed by perpetual benefits to every
business interest This plan, embody-
ing the borrowing Of money on bonds
issued by counties or their subdivisions,
viii meet with but slight opposition
when the voter is convinced that the
money will be judicially and economic
ally expended; that it does not mean
increase of taxation and win bring ex-
pected results. With the plan now in
vogue no person can look ahead to the
tine when there shall be less taxes
levied for road purposes than now.
Continue to collect the amount annual