The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1902-04-11
BETTER A z D
should Have Supreme Control
over Highway Building.


The seoson again approaches when.
superior to all questions of education,
politics or religion, "How shall we get
where we want to 90 through this
mud?' cDgrosses the attention Of u
large portion Of the population Of the
United States. Even In the longest set
tied portions of our country. one would
suppose time. population and wealth
has given opportunity 10 establish
proper foundation for comfortable To-
:omotion for the wet Ms well as the
dry season, we find the condition near.
ms d~eplorable ~ In more recently set
tied areas.
Why IL II that with fine farms, with
substantial buildings for man and
beast, with railrood lines cutting the
country in every direction. and with
billions added each year TO the perma-
men wealth of the country, there Is so
little In the permanent improvement
~ our roads? We vote In this county
~ high as five mills for road purposes.
and nj the end II n decade after spend.
ing $50 out Of every 81 900 there Is lit
tie permanent Improvement.
After failure from the time Of set
Element of this country I'LL now II
would seem NJ n We should he ready
for some change, especially when we
reflect that nearly every civilized por'
ton 81 the old world has successfully
established proper highways. Under
the system prevalent here the citizens
Of many districts spend their time and
occasionally some mlsdirected energy
on the roads, when they run nut Of a
job at home. regardless Of the voice
" the ''rond" 10 come and :ucnd me
and ! will he your bcnefactor." The
ordinary individual would much ra,h.
er make two dollars to Jingle In his
pocket or add to the value of his pri.
vnte wealth than to make ten dollars In
public Improvements, even for his own
benefit. III he seeks every advantage
to make dollars for himself and rnrc.
~ hunts work for the public. and his
nrighbor. the supervisor In the circum.
scribcd road district. often disregard.
ing his Official duty, fails to call out
his men at the proper time. and when
called ont falls "a work them In the
proper manner. and We call this q road
system and howl because we have poor
roads.
With any system that depends upon
the material through which the road
passes We cannot have good roads all
the time. but they can he vastly i'm.
proved. In my judgment, after large
experience, ! am convinced that the
township IL about the proper unit for
n road district-thht IL. for the build.
ing and mrndlng ~ our common dirt
roads. The silc aud moun Of labor
10 he performed In this area gives q
man n permanent position and takes
him away from local influences. and
much more competent men can he sc.
cured To MI the positiono f supervisor
than " the district II small.
Hut this country Is much too cnlight.
ened aud wealthy forever to he subject
tn n hal, ~ It's traffic during prolonged
humid conditions, and we must soon
make n start for permanent roads.
How? by the Inauguration IT u road
system by the government 81 the
United States and the yearly nppro.
printlon 81 not less than $50. 00O. 900.
this money Ia go to localities which
would supplement II with an equal
amount. the whole TO be spent under
the direction Of government engineers.
Thomas Gay, In Chicago Rccord.iIer.
aid.