Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1895-05-30
GOOD ROADS.
DISCUSSING THE PROBLEM OF
BETTER HIGHWAYS.
Economy of Good Roads shown by
Europe-Should the National
Government Undertake. tho
Work-Cost Per Mile.
TT has been estimated that, in adj,


be necessary to build or rebuild about
mate Of the cost of which is $1,000 II
mile, or $500, 600, 900 for the whole
country. Enormous as must be the
cost Of constructing a system of first
class highways, it would appear that,
in their present deplorablc condition,
the roads are expensive almost be-
You'd comparison, According to the
census bureau, there were in the
country june l, 1890, 1876, OF
horses, 2,24G,9 mules and 40, 100
asses. A prominent authority gives
twenty-five cents II day rs his estimate
of the cost of iced for each animal.
Taking this rs basis the expense of
feeding this vast number for II single
day aggregates over S4,3lS,00 or
more than 81, SO. 900, 900 in one year.
1t is said that on the smooth stone
roads of certain European countries a
dog can move heavier load than is
drawn on an average in this country
by horse, and that horse there
pulls easily three times as heavy loads
as equally good American animals
move with difficulty. A conclusion
which many, no doubt, will draw from
this is that about one-third of the pres
ent number of horses would give bet
ter service with first class wagon roads
than is now enjoyed. However, in
view of the fact that considerable
share of these animals is owned in the
cities, where there are more or less OF
good pavements, the number could be
reduced only one-half instead of two
thirds. This would mean lessening
of the feed expense of $7SS, 900, 900 a
year.
The average earnings of capital in
the United States are about three per
cent. On this basis the unnecessary
expense of $7SS, 900, 600 in maintain
ing what would, with good roads, be
surplus stock, represents the interest
on an average investment of more than
$26, 900, 600, 900. This is moro than
six times the investment required for
the building of l 1000, 900 miles of good
stone roads at q cost of $4,000 n mile.
1t 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,
it is declared, however, is the so-called
subdistrict road supervisor system.
County control, as rule, shows still
a marked Improvement over the two
plans named, and wherever the States
have entered into tho field of road
building with effective legislation an
even greater improvement is noted.
But of all roads ever constructed in
the United States those which the
National Government has built I'M
auesticnably 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 king
doms, and they were thus the creations
of National Governments. Absorbed
iito VIC iAilbllt3 thS tobupIS WtIS ~
longer distinct Nations. What had
been National before to them now
sunk to the rank of the provincial
The roads had been constantly i'm.
proved previous to the formation of
the Empire. Now narrower and
cheaper roads are built, and the high
ways of the Fatherland, excellent rs
fhayt do mot Il
with those of France, over which
National authority is exercised.
Until recently the inhabitants OF
cities in this country have generally
regarded the building of country
roads as an undertaking which be-
longed to the farmer alone, the ex-
pense of which he should bear. or
late, through natural causes and the
general agitation of the question, a
better understanding has been reached.
The mud blockades in the various sec
tions Of the country in the last few
years have served to bring merchants
of towns and smaller cities to realiz-
ing sense of what bad roads mean.
Three years ago the merchants Of an
oIlO VI DD,bOb lOSI
account Of muddy roads, in two weeks
of the holiday season over 800, 600
of trade. Smaller cities and towns, of
course, suffered still more in proper
ton, being more directly dependent
upon the trade which the farmers sup
piled.
The quickest and most satisfactory,
and in fact the only sure way to Sc
cure good public highways throughout
the country, in the opinion Of many,
is for the National Government to
step in and exercise its rightful au-
thority. There exists in the country
a strong sentiment adverse to the is
suing of additional National bonds.
Can the roads be built without run
ming the Government into debt? BY
building reasonable portion Of the
roads each year until all shall have
been constructed, and by apportion-
ing the expenses among the Nation,
the States and Territories, the coun-
ties, and possibly the townships, il is