The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1893-02-18
RAILROADS AND WAGON ROADS.
The Improvement of the One, Means the
Prosperity of the Other.

toNiGtNS6D0 HtSO "SfGSiN WIN |
The Improvement of the One. Means tho
Prosperity of the Other.
The subject of ''good roads and how
to secure them is one that is deserving
of all the attention and agitation that it
has of late received in this country,
where the need of the article is most dis
agreeably apparent in whatever part of
the country one may travel. Among
those gentlemen who have manifested
deep interest in the matter, and who
have contributed freely of their means,
with a view to r%emedying the evil and
bringing about the improvement so ear
8estly desired, stands Colonel A. A.
Pope, of the Pope Manufacturing COM
pany, of Boston, who has long been I'M
firing in his able efforts in this direc-
ton. One of his most recent moves in
the premises has been to send to the
presidents of different railroads through
out the country letters urging the estab-
lishment of a road department.. by
each company, for the purpose of aiding
in promoting the improvement of the
common roads of the country. A copy
of the letter appears below:
DEAR SIR-Permit me TO urge upon
your attention the great Importance of
good roads as feeders to railroads.
Throughout the United States tile con
dition of the common country roads is
the index to the prosperity of railroads.
When highways are impossible freight
and passenger earnings are necessarily
diminished and the price of railroad
securities lowered. When the roads
are in good condition merchandise is ac-
cumulated at the depots, and i'll moving
it trains are delayed and accidents in
creased. A uniform good condition of
roads would enable railroads to handle
freight more ex~peditiously.
Good roads are the means by which a
country is built up %poprnously and pros
%perously. Bad roads delay civilization
and cause districts to be sparsely settled,
and poverty and ignorance to abound.
The railroad companies of this country,
representing millions of employees and
billions of capital, and controlled and
directed by men of high intelligence,
have a commanding influence in every
legislative hall in the United States.
Every railway corporation cal request
its officers, agents and employees to do
what they can to create a right senti-
ment in regard to the improvement of
highways in their respective neighbor-
hoods, and all along the various lines
depot masters and freight agents could
report to a road department, established
by the company, the conditions Of the
rnolu II, fhai,, +ar-,,u o,,l xry1,+ 80 11it,o
done to improve them. These depot
masters could be furnished from time to
time with pamphlets containing instruc'
tons for the construction and mainte
nance of highways, for distribution tC
persons doing business at their stations
and thus educate them how to build bet
ter roads, as well as teach them tina
better highways effect saving in trans
p%ortation. Any railroad running through
:. IL territory having good roads must have
Il great advantage over n competing linz
with poor roads from it's stations.
The executive officers Of a railroad
corporation can instruct representative
i'll congress on the Importance of bette
highways, SO that favorable Legislation
may be secured. Newspapers to whom
railroad companies extend their patron
age might be requested to devote spac
\ to agitate this matter. The building NJ
8 of suburban districts, which is OF sucl
a profitable character to railroads, i
first brought about by those who wis]
a to sell land. Aside from the materia
advantages that may accrue to a rail
4 road by its aiding i'll the work of agitat
. ing the subject, there is to be considere'
the broader question of the great beat
4 fits that might be conferred upon the ell
tire community.
Will you not aid this great movement
which is Of so much national Importance
There will be sent to you a memorial
congress on the subject of roads, whic
contains the opinions of the followin
- presidents of railroads: Stuyvesant FISH
Illinois Central railroad; NJ. E. Ingall!
Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and S
i Louis railway; G. j. Ives, Burlington
Cedar Rapids and Northern railway; "
G. Van Horne, Canadian Pacific railwa.
and many others.-New York Recorde