The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-04-26
Good Roads Needed.

Good Roads Needed.
Much has been said by THE SENTINEL
in the past regarding the country roads OF
Indiana. Much yet remains to be said.
1t is a subject which can never be ex-
hausted, and the more it is discussed the
moro there is to discuss. It is fruitless,
II sometimes seems, TO undertake TO edu-
cate the people up to a knowledge Of their
necessities in this direction. Those most
interested cannot be made to see their
true position. and il sometimes seem0 as
though il would be cheaper to send the
entire population to Europe to study tho
road question there from the point OF
actual solution than it 10 TO keep them
here and try TO make the point clear.
Centuries ago Europe solved the road
problem, and solved 1t so thor
oughly that the public ways then
constructed have never needed improving.
They are as good today ss they were hun
drods OF years ago. All that is needed is
few repairs each year The cost is very
slight Contrast this with the condition
OF the roads IN this country. The Amer
lean who claims to have laid tho whole
world at his feet has reason 10 hang his
head in shame at the exhibition.
Alta recent agricultural convention IL
was stated that S200.0OO.0O0 had been
spent upon the roads OF Pennsylvania and
that it requires nearly S7.000,0O0 year
now with nothing 10 show for IL. II IL
costs $4,000 to macadamizs n mile at that
rate IL wouldn't take long to macadamizo
alargo portion Of the roads in each county.
This holds good In Indiana. The only
difference between Pennsylvania and In
diana is that the former has more hills
and mountains Under certain conditions
that would mako the cost OF building
much moro, and in others much less. IL
isn't likely that there would DO very ma
terial difference in the cost, taking the
state as a whole.
The curious thing about tho proposition
30 change tho roads by improving them 10
that the agricultural population-those
who would be most directly benefited
are the ones who are most opposed. Cities
solved the question for themselves long
ago. They have asked no pay from the
rural districts. taking that, rather, in a
natural increase Of property values. This
same increase assists the rural taxpayer,
because cities assist in paying the state
tax, and the more taxable property and
the higher IL 10 taxed the less outlying
districts are called upon TO pay toward
running the government affairs. Though
this is true il is impossible to impress IL
upon tho mind Of the average inhabitant
OF the rural regions. Because city men
are in favor OF improving tho roads aud
because IL will call for few cents in cash
out OF his pockets he opposes it, and no
law can be put through the legislature
favorlng any radical change from the sys-
tenn of building roads which has been in
| operation for four hundred years.
The objection is apparently based upon
the first cost, the amount OF money which
must be raised at first. This disposition
always antagonizos any forward move.
ment and prevents an intelligent admin
istration OF present laws on the subject
IL needs progressive feeling a deter
mination to carry forward in spite OF
| opposition. This ia always the battle
/ cry Of obstructionists in anything, and
/ il has been no worse in tho matter of
road building than it has in ell
/ other forward movements. The opposi-
tion will be overcome in this case. and the
American people will yet cause TO be con-
structed as good roads as ever existed.
Notwithstanding tho assertion is made
that this nation cannot be expected 10
emulate Europe in the matter of road
building, it is so much younger.
There is no sense in allowing an en-
gineer or anyone else charged with tho
requisite authority to draw funds from
the state treasury in unlimited sums to
build unlimited stretches of roads, how
ever good, in some particular locality
What is wanted is the enactment of la W
which will permit the levying of a tax for
the construction OF 80 many specified
miles OF macadamized road each year.
| The state of New Jersey has the best road
law that stands on any statute book, and
that is substantially the plan provided for
in that state. 1t needs before this, how
ever, such a thorough education in the
matter that no one will protest against it,
1t would seem as though this education
might be furnished without special effort
in the difficulties experienced each spring
and after each rain. But the grandfather
submitted to the abuse, and SO strong
is conservatism. that, perforce, because
grandfather hauled wheat to mill through
the mud his descendants haul wheat TO
market through the same mud. II that
rule wero followed to its logical conclusion
we should be carrying our grain to the
old grist mill, with q single set of slowly
revolving stones, instead of grinding il by
the thousand bushels in the finest
equipped mills in the world. This grand
father business is altogether too tiresome
for the modern man to follow.
The only means of education is the con-
slant discussion; keeping the matter ever
before the people. That will accomplish
the most and it is the only way to accom-
plish anything. II the agitation is con-
tinued the generation growing up now
will understand its own necessities and
will construct better highways. Until
then il is to be feared that the same old
mud holes will remain to take dollars
from the pockets OF the farmers.