The Jennings daily record. [volume] (Jennings, La.) 1900-1903, 1902-05-29

when, superior to all queS-
tions OF education. politics or
religion. How shall we get
where we want to go through this
| mud:r engrosses the attention of n
large portion of the population of the
| United States. Even in the longest
| settled portions of our country. where
one would suppose time, population
and wealth has given opportunity to
| establish proper foundation for com
tai bic locomotion for the wet as well
as the dry season, we find the condi-
ton nearly as deplorable as in the
more recently settled areas.
WHY is il tina with fine farms. with
substantial buildings for man and
beast. with railroad lines cutting the
country in every direction, and with
billions added each year to the perma-
nept wealth Of the country. there is so
little in the permanent Improvement
of our roads? We note in his county
as high as five mills for road purposes,
and ut the end of a decade after spend
ing $50 out of every $1,000 there is ut
tie permanent Improvement.
After failure from the time OF set
tlement OF this country till now 1t
would seem as if we shoul he ready
for some change. especially when we
! reflect hat nearly every civilized por-
| ton of the Old World has successfully
established proper highways. Under
| the system prevalent here the citizens
of many districts spend their tine II
occasionally some misdirected energy
on the Dads. when they run out OF Il
Job at home, regardless of the voice OF
the road" to come and mend me n
l will be your benefactor.' The ordl-
nary Individual would much rather
max So to jingle in his pocket or q
to the value of his private wealth than
to make $40 in public improvements.
even for his own benefit so he seeks
every advantage to make dollars or
himself. and rarely hunts work for the
public. and his ~neighbor. the super
| visor in charge in the circumScribed ru-
| raj district. often disregarding his Off
cial duty. fails TO call out his mel at
the proper time. and when called out
fails to work them in the proper man
ner. and We cali this a road system
and how because we have poor roads.
With any system that depends upon
the material through which the road
piNSNS wv III h"N' SS'N ''e 80
the time. but they can be vastly i'm
proved. In my Judgment. after large
experience. l am convinced that the
township is about the proper unit for
a road district-that is, for the build
ing and mending of Il common dirt
roads. The size and amount of
to he performed in this area gives a
man n permanent position and axes
him away from local influences. and
much more competent men can be Sc
cured to fill the position of supervisor
than if the districts are small.
But this country is much too enlight-
ened and wealthy forever TO be sub
ject TO q halt in its traffic during pro
longed humid conditions. and we must
soon make Il start for permanent roads.
How? BY the Inauguration of a road
system by the Government of the Uni
ted States. and the yearly appropriation
of not less than $50. 600. this money
to 20 to localities which would sup
plement it with an equal amount. the
whole 10 be spent under the direction
of Government engineers
Where could money be spent 10 bet
ter advantage: Not On questionable
improvements on rivers and creeks nor
in building superfuous vessels for our
navy hat will he OLD junk in a few
years. An army of men could be per
m~anently employed on roads and the
whole ountT permanently benefited.
Think of il! 4 single battleShip costs
as much as the building of 1909 miles
of permanent road. ana we have a Suf-
ticiency OF the former and there can
bc nc debate about the need of the lat
ter. Such Il policy could be entirely
free from politics. and Republicans.
Democrats. Populists and Prohibition
lists could Jointly work for their coun-
try's good.
Then great capitalists like Carnegie.
who has so literally and intelligently
given to the cause of education. would
give other millions TO lift the bodies of
the public out of the mire, as they
have given millions to emancipate their
minds. What a monument to a mans
generosity and sagacity would be u
stretch of permanent highway built by
his tiat.-Thomas Gay, in the Chicago
Herald
Damages For a Defective Road.
According to q press ljSpatch. n Mich