St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1898-12-17


ton il crushed, energiesare weakened
industry paralyzed, and Ignorance is
increasing rather than diminishing
at least in some districts. This state
OF things, for which the people of the
country districts are not responsible,
drives thousands to the cities. where
they often suffer privation and power
ty, which lead them into temptation
and frequently into crime.
Good roads. wherever built, would
increase the value of property through
out the country. They would make the
markets more accessible and in every
way add to the profit as well as to the
enjoyment of country life, and thus to
the moral and material advancement
of the nation.
Suppose the general government
should appropriate every year an
amount equal to that now expended
for pensions. say sl5O. .OOo, 900, for the
building and improvement of the
roads of the country. This would give,
in round numbers, 50 per capita for
the entire population of the United
States. A county covering. say, 500
square miles, with population $4,000.
would receive annually for the build
ing of roads $4,000. This continued
for ten years would grade, macadam-
ize ard gravel every road in an aver
age county of this area.
''Who would begrudge the expendi-
ture after such roads had been built +?
Who would not say that the expendi-
ture was wise one. elevata,g in its in
fiuence and adding immensely to the
tangible wealth of the country? We
are now paving more than this amount
on the expenditure of the Spanish war.
Is their 4 single person who would not
receive a benefit from good roads far
greater in amount than he now pays
in war taxes? Put it in another way:
is there single person now using the
highways of the country, or whose
business is in any way affected by the
traffic on the highways of the country
(and this touches every man and wom-
an in the United States), who would
not be willing to pay as much for good
roads as he now pays for the war with
Spain?
1.-The revenue bill passed by the last
session of congress in order to raise
funds for carrying on the war prom
ises to yield much larger income
thap will be needed for war expenses.
Broadly stated. it may be said that
the people of the country do not feel
these war taxes, and il this bill should
be continued in effect and the surplus
revenue to the extent of, say, $3.50, ,OOO,-
600 a year, be voted to the improve
ment of roads throughout the coun-
try. the agricultural interests of every
section would be revolutionizetl, farm
life wnuld become popular. and a vast
upward movement would be given to
every phase and feature of the busi-
ness, social and educational life of
America"
In personal letter to the Southern
Farm Magazine bearing on this sub
jcct. Col. Killebrew adds:
'Why should the states and coun-
ties of this country be called upon to
build roads to be used by the United
States government in the tranSporta-
tion of mails and army supplies?
"Why is it not as much the duty of
the general government to provide
such roads es ii is to provide post Of
fee buildings or other public build
ings?
"It occurs to me that the people of
the United States have fallen into q
slovenly way of thinking about the
duty of the government mt in this par
ticular. No good reason can be as
signed why the government should not
build roads that may not be assigned
why the state and county should not
build roads. Equity would demand
thnt every one using the roads should
contribute to their maintenance. 1t
took many centuries for the people of
England to learn that justice dems nd
ed that the government should con-
struct the principal highways in the
country. 1t was the grossest injus-
tlce to impose this burden upon the
country people living along the high
ways. and this injustice. 50 keenly felt
by them, produced rebellion in many
districts before the government was
aroused TO the performance of its duty
in this particular. 1t was strange
that whil,: the commerce between the