Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1894-03-09
Benefit Of no Roads.

weiser Signal.
The races of men that inhabit
the African continent and the adj
.jacent large islands present some
very strange types of humanity
and offer a large field for mankind
to study man, and the thought will
often arise, is the rude civilization
they now possess an evidence of
advancement or is it only feeble
remnant of former high condition
that will finally be totally extinct?
Many Of these semi-barbarous ma
tons have characteristics that are
worthy of more than passing no.
tice. and some of their customs that
have stood the test of time merit
consideration by even our advanc-
ed civilization. The great island
of Madagascar is $50 miles from
the African coast. One of the
principal tribes that inhabit this
island are the Hovas. Their coun-
try is diversified, containing large
tracts of agricultural land, forests
of valuable timber, grazing lands
and mineral deposits of different
kinds. A system of canals for IT.
rigation are constructed and main
tanned at no expense the labor
and benefits are mutual. They till
the soil and produce large crops;
rice being the staple product.
They also work metals and manu-
facture all articles needed for or
binary use. All the pottery need
ed is produced by home industry !;
wool and other fbres are made in
to various kinds of cloth; the skins
of animals, both domestic and wild,
are treated so as to be of use for all
purposes required; the native jew
elers are skilled in working pre-
cious metals; and, as will be read.
lily noticed, in all these latter ac-
complishments differing from us
who enjoy a much higher standard
of civilization and are, for certain
reasons not necessary to mention,
allowed the advanced privilege of
having all these articles furnished
from abroad, SO we are not incon-
venienced by the business activity
naturally resulting from the multi
tudes of operatives and others re-
quired in their manufacture Gas we
remarked before, in this respect we
are differently. But these far-see-
ing people have adopted one policy
that we wish specially to notice
1t is not really unique, but still
very suggestive. They persistent
ly refuse to build or allow roads to
be built in their country. All the
carrying trade is done on the
shoulders of men and women, as
the use of animals is impracticable
So effective has this system proved
that for several hundred years nc
advancement has been made in
their country and all their latent
wealth remains intact and secure
by this very simple and inexpen.
sive method. Now we, in Idaho
have many valuable resources a,
present protected in this manner
Now, to keep them from falling
into the hands of rapacious outsi.
ders, all we need to do is to adopt
the policy of the Hovas. 1t may
be urged that Idaho has prior right
to the idea as applied, but we insist
that the adoption of this policy
will effectually protect our inn
mense deposits of gold, silver, cop
per, etc. Such points as Elk City
Warrens, Seven Devils, Alton and
others that are at present compar-
atively secure would, if roads were
constructed, be absolutely at the
mercy of outside barbarians who
would soon overrun the country,
rObbing our mines and telling our
forests to erect habitations, cities,
mills and factories. The people al
so would, in manner, be affected
and urged to degree of activity
that would disturb the present
tranquility that pervades our land.
Now, the Hovas' policy is an abso-
lutte guarantee against such inno-
vations and as a colonizer is only
second to the Cleveland Hawaiian
program. A great point in it's ia
vor is its simplicity; a child can
see its efficiency and nearly every
community has the native ability
to carry it out to perfection. 1t is
sure thing. All that need be
done is to oppose all other move
ments, and the Hovas' policy, nat
nrally and without effort, adopts
itself.