Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1899-08-02
TO GET GOOD ROADS.
ppOpOSAL THAT THE GOVERN
MENT BUILD THEM.
,TrRoAD MAN SUGGESTS THAT POST
OFFICES AND POST ROADS
HAVE THE POWER.

Colonel !. b. killebrew, leading
.oilroad man of Nashville, in an inter
,isyy on good roads in The Southern
Farm Magazine of Baltimore, takes the
ra3ical position that they should be
bnilt BY the national government, He
says:
1.-The power given in the constitution
IA build post roads and postofiiees may
IA construed 50 as to include ali roads
made for carrying mails. and that under
this pravision it would be proper for the
national government to undertake very
comprehensive system of road building
Tho advantages of good roads would be
nj such inestlmable value to the people
at large, and especially to the great
AGRICULTURAL interests-the foundation
NJ our national weaith-that the sub.
iect demands the favorable consideration
of the whole country. The benefits re-
sulting from the adoption by the gov
eminent of some general plan for build
ing and improving roads weuld in ev
erv respect be beneficial to the people
and to the country. 1t would furnish
emrovment tn all the idle labor of the
country, and this labor would not be in
camDe,itiou with the labor now employ
ed in industrial and agricultural pur-
suits. In fact. it would relieve the con
gestion in the labor market for some
years to come and create work that
would be felt in every avenue Of bust
ness While employed in making better
roads, this labor would benefit every
class in every community without in
luring any.
Tho building OF good roads would
relieve the congestion Of population in
cities by making life in the country
more pleasant and attractive. The great
est drawback to country life is the in
ability to move with ease from point to
point, owing to the muddy roads, which
are sometimes impossible for five or six
months in the year. making such life
confined and barren of all social enjoy
ment, placing the country people in
many sections at such great disad-
vantage that ambition is crushed, ener-
gies are weakened, industry paralyzed
and ignorance is increasing rather than
diminishing-a least in some districts.
This state of things, for which the peo-
pie of the country districts are not re-
sponsible, drives thousands to the cities,
where they often suffer privation and
poverty. which lead them into tempta-
ton 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 profits as we'll 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 nov expended for pen
sions, say, $3.50, 600 600, for the build
ing and improvement of tho roads OF
the country. This would give, in round
numbers, 3 par capita for the entire
population Of the United States. a
county covering, say, 800 square miles,
with population of 90, 000, would re-
ceive annually for the building Of roads
$50 600 This continued for ten years
would grade, macadamize and gravel
every road in an average county Of this
area Who would begrudge the eXpendi-
ture after such roads had been built?
Who would not say that the expenditure
was wise one, elevatiug in its intiu-
ence and adding immensely to the tan
gible wealth Of the country? We are
now paving more than this amount on
the expenditures Of the Spanish war Is
-, l., janN x+anll ~ Ta
ceive benefit from good roads far
greater in amount than he now pays in
war taxes Put 1t i'll another way. Is
there single person now using the
highways Of tho country OF whose busl-
ness is in any way affected by the traffic
on the highways Of the country Cand
this touches the business interests OF ev-
cry man and woman in the United
States who would not be willing 70 pay
as much for good roads as he now pays
for the war with Spain!
THE revenue bill passed by the last
session Of congress IN order to raise
funds for carrying On the war PROMISE
to yield much larger income than Will
be needed for war expenses. Broa&Iy
stated, it may he said that the people Of
the country do not feel these war taxes
and if this bill should be continued III
effect and the surplus revenue to the ex-
tent of, say, $50. 600, 600 year, be
voted to the Improvement of the roads
throughout the country the agricultural
interests Of every section would be rev.
olutionized, farm life would become
popular, and vast upward movement
would be given to every phase and Tea
ture of the business, social and educa-
tional life OF America.
wide Tire Benefits.