Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-09-04
Good Roads and Poor PolItlos.


In his address to the farmers at
Rrandywine Springs, yesterday week,
Hon L. Irving Handy referred to the
question of good public roads, and in
the course Of his remarks said: -
In local way the question of good
roads Is of great Importance Our roads
are inferior to what they should be and
might be. A poor road amounts to a
heeyy tax on every farmer who has to
haul or drive over it, In certain
seasons OF the year the roads in this
county are most unsatisfactory. Good
roads would add a value TO every acre
of land in the county. Once built u
good road can be maintained as cheaply
rs our present roads. When genera
tion Of wise farmers arise in New Castle
county they will be known in history
as the generation of road builders.
This excellent and practical argu-
Eent commends itself to the Morning
News, which editorially endorses Mr..
Handy's remarks and adds these OF its
own 49, -.t
It was we'll for Mr.. Handy to call at
tention to this matter, but it would be
even better il the farmers everywhere
ia the State should demand some
rational system OF road making and
road repairing. Good roads mean an
expenditure of money, just as it requires
more money to build good houses than
it does to build poor houses. No farmer
builds house with the expectation oil
4 having to repair Is roof every spring,
and no farmer ought to stand in the
way Of having roads SO built that they
would require repairs every year.
This is another excellent and practi
cal argument, which should commend
itself to all interested in the roac
question. But there is an importan
feature of the situation which tn,
friends of good roads should bear il
mind, and that is: Do not allow tn
question of good roads to get mixel
up with poor politics, and thel
shunted on to convenient side tract
until the next political campaign come
to hand.
We would not advise the friends @
good roads to abandon their projec
during the campaign, but simply t
keep it from becoming mixed up wit
politics. IL has been but four year
since the. Republican politicians seize
upon the road question as a good can
paign dodge, and all their candidate
for the Legislature in New CAST
county signed a paper setting fort
z their deep and abiding interest in I'll
subject, and asserting what they woul
do for 1t if the people would only elet
them. Most of them were elected, bl
throughout their terms in tine Legil
lature, where they might have dor
something, they never opened the
mouths about good roads.
This year the Republican State Cor
vention touched upon the question /
declaring in favor of the "wise ar
systematic improvement of the publ
highways under county road eng
heers.n This is we'll enough in i
way, but it should not influence I'll
friends of good roads into believir
that the success Of the party that ma
this declaration is all that is sufiicie
to make good roads in Delaware ;
accomplished fact.
1t ought to be apparent to all til
the question of good roads is one th
is not in any manner connected wi
partisan politics. Certainly it is not o
to be, iuggled with for partisan effec
II should apply to politics only wi
] reference to candidates for Legislatu
4 known to be opposed to any legislati
IN favor Of good roads, and any citiz
n who has an interest in the questi
- should vote against such candidate
regardless of political consideration
Let the friends of good public his
ways continue their interest in [
work, and carefully keep it out
politics. With the exception of su
as are known to be opponents,
legislative candidates may be presun
to be in favor of good roads. AL
Judging by the experience Of the pa
legislative candidates who make
especial show of their interest in
question, and who seek the votes
The people upon this issue, may jus
be looked upon with suspicion and {
trust.
Keep the question Of good roads
of politics, except so far as to prev
the election of enemies of the prof,
Continue au earnest study Of the $
iect And when the next Legislat
assemblies, push it along for all tina
is worth. q
r,. .@ Why7