The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1901-06-28

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through which the route pass.
The cross roads are kept up by
the communes, though sometimes
in thinly populated regions these
communes receive assistance from
the Government, especially when
these roads become of Importance,
The nationalroads are paved like
a street, having an average width OF
524 feet. The departmental roads
are 80 feet wide, the military and
cross roads are of variable width.
Piles of broken stone are placed at
convenient distances and man is
constantly employed in repairing
each section.
GOVERNMENTAL AID.
The General Government of the
United States should aid in build
ing the great highways, as was
contemplated by the founders OF
the Government. In fact, the
power given in the Constitution to
establish postofices and post roads
might justly be construed so as to
include all roads needed for postal
service. Rural mail delivery will
necessitate thousands of such roads
through the country districts.
Why should not the General Gov
ernment aid in building them
How could the Government ex-
pend money that would do so
much good to the people of this
nationg Good roads would make
the country more attractive and
would tend to relieve the conges-
tion of population in the cities.
The greatest drawback to country
life is the inability to move with
ease from point to point, owing to
the bad condition of the highways.
Why can not the Government
make appropriations for the high
ways on land, as well as the high
ways on water! But few 90 over
the latter, while millions go over
the former, Congress votes subsi-
dies to railroads, steamships and
tor mapping the seas of commerce.
This is very necessary and i'm
portant work, but not more impor.
tant than making the highways on
land.
Suppose the General Govern
ment should appropriate every ten
years an amount equal to that now
expended for pensions, say $780,
900, 200, for the building and i'm
provement of the roads of the
country. This would give, In
round numbers, 80 per capita for
the entire population of the United
States. This continued for two
generations would grade, macad-
amize and gravel every great pub
lie .thoroughfare in the country |
when aided by local appropri-
atoms.
Who would begrudge the ex-
penditure after such roads have
been builtg Who would not say
hat the expenditure was a wise
,ne, elevating in its in fiuences and
ldding immensely to the tangible
wealth and commerce of the
,ountryg
WHERE WE ARE LACKING.
In almost every material thing
he United Stanes takes the first
'ank except in the matter of roads.
n this respect it is far behind the
most enlightened nations. In all
he States some good roads have
,een built, but would it not add !
immensely to the growth and
prosperity of this country to have
is highways improved so as to be
n harmony with all its other
,reat improvements 1t is the one
hing in which we are still linger-
ng in the unrelieved darkness of
he Middle Ages; it is the one blot
Ipon our escutcheon of material
ii is the one thing that
would benefit every man, woman
nd child 10 the United States, and
'et we hesitate to do 1t.
NATIONAL BENEFIT.
Good roads, wherever built,
you'd increase the strength, power
nd wealth Of the country. No tax
an be entirely equalized. The
Of the Northern trans
ontinental lines Of railway did not
eneft the extreme Southern
'tates. nor did the immense APP
for improving the