The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1902-04-15
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Farmers and the Koad Ouestiop.

7 r ANING been appointed del
~ egnte TO this congress by the
Department OF Agriculture
OF the Province of Ontario.
1t is with some degree Of timid-
lty that l attempt TO address so large
and distinguished an assemblage OF
public spirited representatives gath
cred from so many distant States and
European countries. on so important
Il subject and of such wide national
interest as that OF good roads.
Having followed with deep interest
the progress of the good roads move
nent of recent years in both the United
States and Canada, l desire briefly TO
touch upon few points of the good
roads question from the farmers point
of view.
If it Is sound public policy and the
true function OF government to do in
the interest of the community as u
whole all those things which the indi-
vidual cannot well do by himself, does
1t not appear clear that the State
should pay the whole cost for improv-
ing its main thoroughfares? These are
to be the leading arteries connecting
all business centres. and continuing
from county to county across the en-
tire State and separate from the many
other local roads to be cared for by the
local authorities.
The principle of State built highways
appears to be as old as civilization
itself, being adopted by the first ex-
tcnsive builders of good roads-the
Carthaginians and Romans. Not since
the building by the latter of the APP
plan Way and the $1,000 miles OF solid
| roads across that ancient empire, and
which remain as monuments of their
wisdom to this day, has any country
obtained the priceless boon of good
roads without some measure Of State
aid. Let the State first build its main
highways and they will be ever pres
ent object lessons to the local authori-
ties for constructing the other roads.
The length and number OF streets in
the city are short and small compared
with the compact concentration of
wealth, thus making the burden of
cost comparatively light for street inn
provement. In the country districts
| the length and number of only the
leading highways to be improved are
so far out of proportion to the sparsely
| settled and scattered wealth of the
FARMING communities that it is entirely
| out OF the question for the farmers
alone TO think of paying the much
larger comparative cost for such first
class stone roads as are required. The
| farmers have always borne their share.
sometimes more than their fair share,
Of needful taxation, and will not object
TO paying their just part for State built
| good roads.
Partial measures of State aid are
| steps in the right direction. so far as
they go. l would not say anything in
disparagement OF the good work and
the very commendable degree of prog
| ress that has been made under the
| partial systems of State aid for good
roads in those leading States of New
Jersey, Connecticut and New York
But IN the foremost State, Massachu-
sets, which has adopted more nearly
the European ana Roman systems. we
ma the nearest to the ideal plan q
| continuous system of good roads buil,
| across the entire State, under CONNIE
| tent State, authority. The work IS Dro-
| Jected and the roads properly located
where they will be OF the greatest good
to the greatest number. The State
builds the roads and pays the whole
cost, and Afterwards charges one
fourth of it to the county through
which the road is built. This far less
complicated system oyercomes an i'm
mense amount OF difficulties. draw
backs aud delays with the less enter
priSing local authorities Of county or
township.
Let the general governments OF the
! United States and Canada build ideaI
continental highways from ocean to
ocean. Let the States and provinces
build similar highways from border to
border. Let the European nations OK
| pend some of their war millions i'm
building ideal highways from Europe
! across Asia, thereby placing Western
civilization in closer touch with the
! Chinese and other Oricntals. Let tho
United States ana England build good
roads In the Philippines and South
| Africa, and they viii more effectuallv
pacify the Fllipuos and Beers at far
less cost than By use OF the cannon
j. r. Bean, Vicc-P President Ontario
! Good Roads Association. at the Bur
| falO Good Roads Congress