The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1897-09-01

(Known as the Apostle of Good Roads.)
These local authorities as a rule have
no knowledge of the science of road
building. and 5oyears of experience has
shown a great deal of labor wasted
and vast amounts of road taxes collect
ed in vain.
In many places our roads to-day are
no better than they were 20 and 30 years
ago. radical improvement in the sys-
tenn itself must be made.
The League of American Wheelmen
has been the subject of much criticism
on account of its agitation for better
highways. We have been accused of
selfishness in the matter.
1t is believed by many that we wheel
men expect farmers 20 load themselves
up with taxes that they might build
roads for the convenience of bicycle
riders. No greater mistake could be
made. We of the League of American
Wheelmen who are engaged in this agi-
tation for better roads feel that the
farmer to-day bears his full share of
public taxes, and that they should not
be unnecessarily added to. We feel
that mistake has been made in the
past in expecting farmers alone to pay
for building roads, and in leaving the
entire responsibility for our roads in
their hands. The farmers of the United
States are but fraction of our popu-
lation, and they are by no means the
only ones who will profit by the con-
struction of good roads. 1t is claimed
that in the state of New York every
farmer is obliged to build roads for
eight persons out of the state popula-
ton. Why should not the other seven
contribute to their cost?
While good roads would save the
farmers immense amounts in hauling
products, this saving would indirectly
benefit the whole population. Neither
is the farmer the only one who travels
the country highways. Country mer.
chants, doctors and professional men,
peddlers, pleasure seekers, and last but
not least the wheelmen, would be direct
ly benefited by good roads. 1t is I'M
just, therefore, that the farmer alone
should pay for building these roads.
I am glad of an opportunity to say
to a gathering of farmers that the
League of American Wheelmen pro-
poses to help them in bringing about
proper division of the cost of good
roads, so that the city people, the cap
italists, merchants and manufacturers,
the wealthy corporations, railroad, in
surance and telephone companies; in
fact every class of people, shall contrib
ute to the cost of building them. The
League of American Wheelmen believes
that many of our country roads should
be built by state aid; that part of the
cost of good roads should be paid out
of state tax, which would be levied
upon all property and all classes of
people alike, so that every taxpayer
shall contribute proportionate
amount, according to the amount of
property he owns. We propose that
the states shall help to build roads.
and to divide their total cost between
the people of the locality, who are most
directly benefited, and the adjoining
property owners whose land rises in
value as a result of the improvement,
and the state, as representing the en-
tire population. This is not Utopian
plan; it is not a theory only, but has
been adopted in practice with great
success in New Jersey, in Connecticut,
in Rhode Island and, in modified form,
in Massachusetts. New Jersey has be-
come famous for the fine roads she has
built. These were constructed by a
state aid system under which their
cost is divided about as 1 have indi-
Gated. The farmers of New Jersey
are enthusiastic over this state aid
system, and the towns and counties ERE