The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1896-08-06
The Public High ways.

The question OF good roads IS press
!ng itself more and more on the atten'
ton of the public. During the past few
weeks there have been no less than
three conventions held to consider this
matter-a State convention at Rich
mond. Va, a State convention at Co.
lumbia. S. c., and the National Road
Congress which assembled in Atlanta.
The subject of good roads appeals to
the whole public. At the north and
wherever there is a large population the
a matter of organization and enthusi-
assn. But where the population is
sparse the question is surrounded by
immense and almost insurnountable
difficulties unless public opinion can be
prevailed on to perceive-and that
cleany-that the interests of the State
are involved.
1t is an easy matter for some countleS
to make permanent Improvements. but
in counties where the population is
sparse and where there is no consider
able aggregation of capital, the question
of good roads takes the shape vi a very
serious and difficult problem. SO that
while some communities have the
means to carry on permanent road i'm
provementS from year to year, other
| communities. less fortunate in that re-
spect, will be compelled to let matters
run on pretty much as they have been
running, unless, indeed, public senti-
ment so crystallizes a to compel leg
islation on the subject.
Just when and how this is to be
brought about it would be difficult to
say. The public highways have been
neglected for so many years-or worse
than neglected under our d%eplorabiy
bad system-that bad roads hayc come
to be regarded as a necessary evil. The
cost that they entail on the public ana
the losses that are sustained by both
producers and buyers. are beyond com
putation. As this cOst and these losses
fall on the public at large. irrespective
of county boundaries. trades or profess
sion. the question would seem TO invite
general legislation for the benefit of the
whole State.
If the improvements that are neces-
Sary were to be made at once the QueS-
ton would be settled in the negative.
1t would be out of the power of the peo-
pie to engage in the affair. But il is not
necessary. In this respect the people. if
they move in the matter at all. will have
to follow the example of other countries
and other communities. They will have
to go slow, in order not only to keep
give a solid and a permanent character
to the work that is done.
Slow and sure is not a bad motto in
any enterprise or in any line of bust
ness. and il is especially applicable to
the matter of road improvement. A
mile of permanent roadway built every
wear would. in the curse of time, give
a splendid system of public roads, and
would nearly double the value of the
taxable property of the State, to say
nothing of the money that would he
saved to the producers as well as to the
consumers.
This question. like all other questions
of public Importance, has its ramitica-
lions. and in II way and another. il
affects the interests of every man. WON
an and child in the State. In spite Of
tlis-or, perhaps. by reason of tit is
Il very difficult problem to solve. If il
is ever solved the solution must neces-
sarily be THE result of State legislation;
and this * a very delicate matter.
There is one reform. however, in regard
TO which public sentiment is rapidly
crystallizing. and as this has to do with
the road question it may be briefly re-
ferIvd to here. 1t is the belief on the
! parr of the people of all classes that il