The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1893-02-03
PUBLIC HIGHWAYS.
Now We Know why the PIutocrats
Were Willing to Improve Thorn.

Now We Know why the Plutocrats
Were Willing to Improve Thorn.
We have been for some time past
receiving numerous circulars and
marked copies Of newspapers from oil
parts of the United States in which
the Improvement of the public high
ways was very enthusiastically advo-
Gated, says the Topeka Advocate and
Tribune: To all outward appearance
this widespread agitation was the
spontaneous outgrowth Of a great
public necessity, and yet the very fact
that the subject was taken up at
about the same time in all parts of
the country, and was favorably
treated in the papers irrespective of
party, tended to excite curiosity, if
nothing more, in the mind Of the
reader as to the character of the
prime motive behind it all.
We have not thus far participated
In this discussion, and for some rea-
son, we have failed to imbibe any of
the prevailing enthusiasm. We have
been watching for developments and
fully expecting that time would re-
veal the motive power behind this
movement, and at last the light be-
gins to dawn.
Finally petition to congress was
presented to us for signation, asking
for the creation of the Office of ma
tional road commissioner, and the es-
tablishment of bureau of public
roads with a retinue of national Off
Gals, to whose tender care these great
public improvements should be COM
mitted. We noticed on that petition
the names OF some persons who have
heretofore manifested considerable
dread of paternalism-men who be-
lleve the government ownership and
operation of the railroads would be
dangerous to the public interests, and
who, under no circumstances, would
consent to such thing. There is no
doubt that the country has been
flooded with these petitions. There
is no doubt that they will be signed
by great many people, and that a
great pressure will be brought to bear
upon congress to establish this bureau
and create the Offices required to car
ry out the purposes of the promoters
OF this movement. 1t is important,
therefore, that the people shall under
stand just what is believed the
scheme.
Ut course it will not be difficult to
discover the incentive for the crea-
ton of the new Offices demanded.
The increase of the public patronage,
and the additional sinecures to be
provided are sufficient objects to
secure large support to this part of
the program. But what are these
officers to do, and how are they to
do it? The revenues of the govern
ment are insufficient to undertake
the vast system of improvements con-
templated without special provision
for the expense. What provision is
proposed to be made.
Since the widespread discussion
that has taken place upon this sub
ject has awakened some public senti-
ment in favor Of it, some of the news
papers are beginning the discussion
OF details, and in doing this they
have let the cat out of the
bag. The same old devil-fish
that for years has been
sapping the life-blood of the people
is behind all this agitation for the
improvement of our public roads.
The scheme contemplates the issue of
new interest bearing government
bonds which would at once be pur-
chased by the same sharks, both in
England and America, who have con-
trolled the financial policy of this
government through the treason of
our national legislators for more
than a quarter of century, The
following from the St. Joseph Herald
upon the subject of the bonds is suffi-
GENTLY explicit:
1t issued continuously and to the
extent they probably would be, they
should at once settle the question of
the life of the national banking sys-
tenn, supposed to depend upon the.
life OF the present government bonds,
as they would be equally as valuable
and acceptable as security for the
notes of national banks as the gov
eminent bonds now are, which is a
most important consideration; indeed,
it would seem second only to that of
the improvement of the roads.
Here then, is the real meat in the
cocoanut. The issue of new govern
ment bonds, the continual interest
drain upon the industries of the
country that would go to further en-
rich the favored few, the perpetua-
ton of the national banking system,
and the increase of the public patron
age, are the real motives behind all
this agitation, and not the improve
ment Of the public highways for the
general good. Let the people under
stand it and be governed accordingly.
The reform press should proceed at
once to turn the lights on the scheme.
Deserted Towns.
A Goldsmith of to-day could find
abundant material for any number of
poems on deserted villages by taking
a trip to Nevada. That state, which
had population of 62, 600 in 1880, had