The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1901-08-30


A MUDHOLE JUST AHEAD.
Gso-ls Like This Make Driving in the
Country a Torture)
ernmen Mt make appropriations for the
highways on land as well : the high
ways on water? But few 20 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 rot
more important than making The high
ways on land. We all know how
anNio.s congress men are 10 get an ap-
preparation in the rivers and harbors
bills for the Improvement Of some in
significant stream in their state. How
much wiser ii would be 10 vote this ap-
preparation for making some highway
between two cities or between two
states. Hundreds of millions OF dol
lars have been wasted on streams tina,
can never be made nayigable. which. If
txpe nGtd on our highways. would give
us the best system Of roads in the
world
suppose the general government
should appropriate every ten years an
amount equal 10 that now expe nded
for pensions. say. slj0.000.OO0. for the
building and improveme Mt 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
erations, would grade, macadamize,
and gravel every great public thor4
oughfare in the country, when aided
by local appropriations.
Who would begrudge the expend-
ture after such roads have been built?
Who would not say that the expendi-
ture was a wise one. eleyating 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 a single person
who would not receive a benefit from
good roads far greater than he re
ceiveG from the Spanish war? Put it
in another way: Is there SINCE 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 Q pay as much for
good roads as he has paid for the war
with Spain?
In almost every material thing the
rT.tfs "a 4 hA HrS4 L.
cept in the matter Of roads. in this re-
spect ii 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
grow tn and prosperity Of this country
20 have its highways improved 20 a. to
be in harmony with all its other great
Improvements? 1t is the one thing in
which we are still lingering In the I'M
relieved darkness Of the Middle Ages;
II is the one blot upon our escutche on
Of material progress; it Is the one
thing that would benefit every man.
woman and child in the United States,
and vet we hesitate TO do il.
Objections are made by many that
Il IS not the duty Of the general gov
ernment 10 aid in building roads; that
II il 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 10
bui.d roads for postal service. Why
not. then. build them? The improve
ment Of our rivers is done for the wc.-
fare Of the people. Why should not
roads he built for their greater well
fare? Both are highways. one by wa
ter, the other by land.