The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1894-10-20
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS



There is no longer any necessity for
discussing the desirability and econo.
my of good roads These two points
have been pretty fully established,
and people generally admit the inn
portance OF improving our country
highways. The great obstacle To
getting TO work is the dispute as who
shall undertake the work and pay
for IL.
IL is inconceivable to many how the
idea can be entertained for moment
that the construction and maintenance
of highways can be safely intrusted to
individuals or private corporations for
gain. Only little in advance OF this,
1t is declared, however, is the so-called
subdistrict road supervisor system.
County control, as n rule. shows still
marked improvement over the two
plans named, and wherever the states
have entered into the field OF road
building with effective legislation an
even greater Improvement is noted.
But OF all roads everconstructed in the
United States those which the nation
al government has built unquestiona-
bly, are or have been the best
a striking illustration OF the com
parative merits OF national and local
management OF public roads is TO be
found in Germany. The best roads of
that country were built by the states
which now constitute the empire while
they were yet independent kingdoms,
and were thus the creations of nation
nj governments. Absorbed into the
empire the states were no longer dis
tinct nations. what had been nation
al before to them now sunk TO the
rank OF the provincial. The roads
had been constantly improved previous
70 the formation OF the empire. Now
narrower and cheaper roads are built,
and the highways OF the fatherland,
excellent as they are, do not com
pare favorably with those Of France,
over which national authority is ex-
ercised. 49,
As regards che cost, IL has been es-
timated that, In addition to the good
roads already possessed, in order that
a system equal 20 the best in Europe
may be had, IL would be necessary to
build or rebuild about 1000, 900 miles,
a reasonable estimate OF the cost OF
which is $4,000 mile, or $4,000, 900, 900
for the whole country.
Until recently the inhabitants OF
cities In this country have generally
regarded the building OF country roads
ms an undertaking which belonged TO
the farmer alone, the expense of
which he should bear. OF late, through
natural causes and the general agita-
ton OF the question, a better under
standing has been reached. The mud
blockades in various sections Of the
country in the last few years have
served To brig merchants OF towns
and smaller cities To "A realizing sense
OF what bad roads mean. Three years
ago the. merchants OF an Ohio city of
80, 900 inhabitants lost, on account OF
muddy roads, I'm two weeks OF the hol-
iday season over Sl00.OO0 of trade.
Smaller cities and towns. OF course,
suffered still more in proportion, being
more directly dependent upon the
trade which the farmers supplied.
The subdistrict and township plans
of building and maintaining roads
have been given ample trial and have
sadly disappointed those who favored
them. In the light of experience there
Is n desire TO know il IL is not time to
forsake these worse than wasteful
plans and adopt system which others
have proved eminently successful The
quickest and most satisfactory, and,
In fact. the only sure way 20 secure
good public highways throughout the
country, in the opinion OF many, is for
the national government 20 step in
and exercise its rightful authority.
There exists in the country strong
sentiment adverse To the issuing OF
additional national bonds. Can the
roads be built without running the
government into debt? BY building a
reasonable portion OF the roads each
yearuntil all shall have been construct
ed, and by apportioning the expense
among the nation, the states and ter
ritories. the counties and possibly the
toonships It is believed IL will be
found possible TO secure the coveted
good roads without issuing bonds
Twenty years would be reasonably
short period for the building Of 1000
OOO.miles OF suitable highways This
would require the construction OF 90.
600 miles per year Two hundred mil
lions OF dollars would be the annual
expense.
On the convenient supposition that
the. patton at large should bear one
half and that the states and territories
together with the counties and towns
should bear the balance, the general
government would becompelled TO ap
propriate annually Sl00.0OO,OoO. This
would not represent very considera
BILE additional burden, for now
-fourtis OF that amount Is eS
pended by the postal department
on Highways or the remain
ing So, 100000 large share, say
$40. 600, 600, would be wiped out by EN-
pioying regular army forces on the
roads 10 those sections where theii
presence Is required. As rule, 1t maj
be said, no less than 10000 men, wh'
now End army life irlSsome. because o