The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-08-30

here intended against railroads, but II the
people of this state would awaken to the
great opportunities existing in good
wagon roads for the increase of wealth at
home and Of liberation (partially) from
the thraldom of transportation com
panies, they would not rest until the state
was covered by a network Of highways
belonging to the people and beneficial to
city and country alike.
The history of transportation presents a
succession of marvels unequaled in any
other industrial field. The quadruped
with crude wagon vanishes IN antiquity
The evolution of the splendid equlpage
of wealth with beautiful, shining horses.
luxurious carriage, rubber-tired wheels
and velvet cushions, where my lady Tolls
at ease, is accompanied with long
stretches of smooth asphalt pavements IN
city streets over which the modern car
rage rolls without a jolt. But novel
vehicles without the horse begin now to
make their appearance on the pavements,
and sometimes venture out, If the
weather is dry, into the rough country
roads a short distance. The automobile,
not yet within reach Of commerce, ap-
pears like one crying in the wilderness:
Prepare We the wayI'
The horse will gradually pass into dis
use, except for rough work. The horse
less carriage will compete with the rail-
road, whether steam or electric, except In
long distances and heavy fre!ghts The
man will recover his individuality along
the common road Such is the consensus
of opinion among men, presenting a sit
uation so probable as TO be rather an
estimate than a prophesy But in order
that the man may recover his individ-
uality by the use of these splendid new
devices, the state must do its duty. In
the coming age, to meet the progressive
| demands of the new world of trausporta-
ton, the public roads must have the es-
pecial attention of government; otherwise,
before we fully sense what is transpiring.
we may incur the odium of IetrOgres-
sion The country roads must be graded
| Strengthened ana macadamized.
But 1t is not alone to meet the eXigen-
cies of marvellous Improvement that our
country roads should be perfected Good
roads increase land values, save wear
/ and tear of wagons, harnes -es and Of
articles transported. They save the beef
| of cattle driven over them. They save
/ time They bring fields nearer to market
and markets nearer to fields. 1t can safe
! ly be stated that a state or country with
! good roads has an immense advantage In
| the matter Of economy and consequent
| accumulation of wealth over state or
! community the roads of which are neg
Iected.
! The laws Of Minnesota on the subject OF
! country roads may have been sufficient
/ for the needs of a frontier state, and
! undoubtedly do measure up to the stand
ard Of neighbOring states, but the native
! American is rather inclined to Overle k
/ the great Importance of the subject I'm
! this state the country roads are unGs r
| the supervision of local supervisors and
are maintained generally by the WORK
| of persons who live in the road district
and who work out their road and poll tax
| in that way. A road thus maintained
/ is most commonly local concern, and
a general nuisance. Engineering skill Is
not employed. Experiences is absent from
! every detail of the work. Interest flags
/ and the public and private value Of the
! construction is not appreciated. 1t would
! be unfair to say that the work is pur-
! pOsely neglected, or that all localities
are derelict, but the exception TO the
! general rule is rare. The ordinary Min
nesota road is circuitous, siding uu-
J graded and rough in dry weather, and
| well nigh impossible in wet. The coca .
! sional corduroy road, so called throue n
! swamps, although once COmmendable is
an outrageous travesty on the claims of q
! great state to q high standard of civil
cation. The country roads, leading into
the great cities Of the state are inexcusa-
! bly, bad. Before the limit Of five miles
out of any city or town in Minnesota is
! reached the supervisor system Of local
! support becomes painfully evident II
Minnesota desires to keep pace with the
! evolution Of automobile transit, or If she
| expects to reach the heights Of that eco
nomtc wisdom which saves by making
| timely and effective eXpeditures, she must
| change her road system. So great, in
/ deed, has become the subject of high
ways that none other exceeds it in impOr-
lance. Yet its Importance grows with
| every turn of wheel and with every
| new invention.
The economic problem Of the age IS
not how to produce, but how to distribute.
| and the solution lies in the proper settle
! ment Of the question of good roads. The
present and the future demand a new de
partment in our state government which
! should be designated the department OF
! highways and bridges. This department
should have charge Of all wagon roads in
| the state, and since these roads are al
ready owned by the public, should, In
stead Of being limited to the settlement
| of disputes and the hearing Of com
! plants, have entire control. It should APP
point a road commissioner In each county.
who should have the power of appointing
deputies. The commissioners and deputies
! should be paid salaries and devote their
! exclusive attention to the highways OF
! the country. Moreover, this department
should always be kept separate and dis
| uncJ from the sphere Of the railroad and
warehouse commission, the ostensibIe
reason being that the subject Of wagon
roads unlike that Of railroads is almost
| exclusively public, while the latter are
| treated as almost exclusively private.
Here then, we are again brought to the
original subject Of convict labor The
writer believes that whether or not the
state takes control OF wagon roads. as
suggested, in the great work Of preparing
| Minnesota for the higher civilization
which is rapidly approaching. the labor
of convicts might well be employed in
the construction Of good roads. A &C.
! partment Of highways may never be es-
! tablished, but If the wisdom Of our legis-
| lature should grasp and develop the idea
| the department so established should be
! given the power to make fequisition on
! the prison board for all It's prisoners at
| any and all times for road work More
| over, the law should require the depart
nent to employ all able bodied male con-
victs for such purpose. But II such a
! department should not be established
the convict labor Of the state prison
| should still be employed in the consuuc-
ton and maintenance Of good roads.
! The Ubiquitous shoe contract with tho
! so-caIled Union Shoe and Leather COM
pany, must expire in q few years Cor al
ready has expired, as I learn from re-
1t should ever again be permitted. Seven
months of the year could be used for
road building, and the balance of ms
! year for making binding twine.
| Convict labor employed on wagon roads
could be Objectionable to no one. or
ganized LABOR could not object because
| it would not bring the convict labor On o