The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1901-08-30

eminent make appropriations for the
highways on land as we'll as the high
ways on water? But few go over the
latter, while millions go over the for
mer. Congress votes subsidies to rail-
roads, steamships and for mapping the
seas of commerce. This is very neces-
sary and important work, but not
more important than making the high
ways on land. We all know how
anxious congressman are to get an ap-
preparation in the rivers and harbors
bills for the improvement of some in
significant stream in their state. How
much wiser it would be to vote this APP
preparation for making some highway
between two cities or between two
states. Hundreds of millions of dol
lars have been wasted on streams that
can never be made navigable, which, if
expended on our highways, would give
US the best system of roads in the
world.
Suppose the general government
should appropriate every ten years In
amount equal to that now expended
for pensions, say, $150,000,000, for the
building and improvement Of the roads
of the country. This would give, in
round numbers, two dollars per capita
for the entire population of the United
States. This, continued for two gen.
era tions, would grade, macadamize,
and gravel every great public thor
oughfare in the country, when aided
by local appropriations.
Who would begrudge the expendi-
ture after such roads have been built?
Who would not say that the eXpendi-
ture was wise one, elevating in its
influences and adding immensely to
the tangible wealth and commerce of
the country? We paid more than this
amount in the expenditures of the
Spanish war. Is there single person
who would not receive benefit from
good roads far greater than he re-
ceived from the Spanish war? Put it
in another way: Is there single per-
son now using the highways of the
country, or whose business is in any
way affected by the traffic on the high
ways of the country (and this touches
the business interests of every man
and woman in the United States), who
would not be willing to pay much for
good roads as he has paid for the war
with Spain?
In almost every material thing the
United States takes the first rank ex-
cept in the matter of roads. In thisre-
spect it is far behind the most en-
lightened nations. In all the states
some good roads have been built, but
would it not add immensely to the
growth and prosperity of this country
to have it's highways improved so as to
be in harmony with all its other great
improvements? 1t is the one thing in
which we are still lingering in the un-
relieved darkness of the Middle Ages;
it is the one blot upon our escutcheon
of material progress; it is the one
thing that would benefit every man,
woman and child in the United States,
and yet we hesitate to do it.
Objections are made by many that
it is not the duty of the general gov
eminent to aid in building roads; that
if it did it would place upon the gen.
eral government the responsibility for
the welfare of the people. But is not
the general government responsible
for the welfare of the people? The
constitution gives the authority to
build roads for postal service. Why
not, then, build them? The improve
ment of our rivers is done for the well
fare of the people. Why should not
roads be built for their greater well
fare? Both are highways, one by wa
ter, the other by land.