The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1893-02-10
GOOD ROADS FOR ILLINOIS.


Coed Highway. for the Entire state.
In recent interview On the question
Of good crnrtry roels Governor Altscld
expressed himself AZ follows.
IL ro.Sari the question Of god roads ms
one Of the most important that now con-
fronts the people Of Illinois. The state
should take hold OF 1t with resolution
and upon broad gauge plan. There is
no adequate reason for the iupassabiiify
Of many of our common roads. The
west has built great cities, railroads and
workshops. Illinois has been in the front
rank in AL Of theee improvements. There
Is no excuse fer her being behind in her
road policy. particularly ~ her sgricul-
trre il the basis Of her prosperity. 1t
seoIns almost incredible that we have
made ~ httlc progress in the business OF
roalra.ing. This question should in
terest the farmer more than any one
alse for The reason that he suffers much
actual financial loes from bad rusads.
'-As result Of iinpssssble roads the
farmer is often prevented from market
ing his grGvu when and where IL would
bring the bcet prices. In other words. he
must sell when he can get 10 selling
place and not when the best price is OBJ
tainable. The railroads also are deeply
interested in securing good roads. As
things are now the railroads are swa,nped
with grain for shipment when good
roads enable the farmer 70 deliver his
grain 70 them. but let the weather make
the roads bad. and the farmer, being IN
able 20 harl over them. ceases TO bring
his lrain 70 market, and the railroad and
its cars are idle. For this reason alone
many railroads IRE compelled TO have an
unnecessarily large number Of cars. Bad
roads congest the grain business into the
periodic spells of good roads. and this
necesnta hig her charges for the scrv
ice OF transportation when II u rendered.
In addition TO all this tesEing over bad
roads 10 hard ON the horses. hard en- tie
wagon and hard on the farmer himself
w Int have you to say concerning tho
expense Of building good roads through
out the etatey'
That is most difficult problem to
deal with. However. IL may be ret down
rs principle of night and justice that
those who are benefited by the good
roads should pay for thsm But good
road policy would be of general benefit
to the entire state. 1t might he, there
fore, that some Of tho expense should De
borne by the state at large. In addition
each county might have 4 local tax for
the same purpose. Townships likewise
should have o tax But it would be IN.
fair 20 township to compel il 10 build
LOT Of bridges over a stream mainly FOR
the benefit Of people all over the county.
II would be for such purpose that o
general couLty tax might lie levied In
addition to this, property. farms espe
cially. that ire corsricuously benefited.
should lie made 70 pay "a special assess
ment al Of this, however, Is very
crude. ] only suggest it as perhaps
feasible plaa would not like TO be con-
siderpd rs having reached final conclu-
mons on this phase Of the matter"
Would good road policy upon the
part Of the state greatly increase state
taxesy'
THAT would depend upon the policy
adopted. II we were TO undertake to build
good roads al over Illinois AZ once the
cost would Ire great and would neces-
sarily heavily increase taxation. But
such policy cotild not he agreed upon
or maintained apprehend that with
careful and economical! administration II
the state affairs general taxation need be
but little Increased, il increased at all, in
order to begin road policy. And II
should be considered that money eapcnd-
ed in permanent improvements, such as
good roads, is not like money thrown
away upon payrolls Of useless employ
ecs"
Have you given the matter Of road
building any consideration
'Only in general way. have kept
track Of the question a. it has been
treated in the newspapers and magazines
and have been much interested by It, 1t
appears that o good roadbed and road
way about f,urteen feet " ide-that Is to
eay, double track-can be built for about
fifty cents linear foot. This would lie
about $500 mile. Where general
system Of roadmaking would be gone
into, however. | am inclined to believe
that this expense might be greatly re
duced. But, even at fifty cents foot,
two roads spanning an ordinary county
at right angles could be constructed for
less than $500 600. The interest on such
an Investment would be about &c., u
year. A properly constructed road
would not require much expenditure for
repairs for a long timc. "-Clica6o News
Ra.nrI