The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1903-11-21
SATURDAY, NOV. 81. 1903.
The Vital Need.

1t now appears within the province
of possibilities that the county board may
make much needed appropriation tor
Douglas county roads. Should it so de
eide il will mean the greatest possible
boon to adjacent undeveloped territory.
To the observing man the city is suffer
ing from plethora Of what III the in
diyidnal would be dubbed an initiation OF
the lego" and decided lack OF aggres-
s;ve action. This is Characteristic OF
both citizens aud officials, Firmly IN
trenched in their belief Of the ultimate
and unquestoned supremacy OF this city
they are content to rest upon their oars
relying upon the magnificent natural loo
alton of itself automatically to con
siruct a grea, con mercial and industra
en,repot To the stranger who possesses
the happy faculty ri seeing ourselves as
others see us Invested Of all bias II IS APP
parent that Superior lacks two notably
essential factors that make for urban
independence and supremacy. These are
a greater number of diversified shops aud
factories which shall give employment to
large number and thereby enrich II e
city and more and better roads i'll both
city and county.
The greatest civilizing influence known
is free and easy transportation from place
to place. With good roads go popnla-
ton, industrial progress aud a high
degree of intelligence. Lacking good
roads the natural conquences of thes"
must be lacking, Good roads are the
social, agricultural and industrial pulse
Of community, they tell whether the
patient is sick or well and how flows the
ife-blood Of public intelligence aud
enterprise. While the city Of Superior
itself is sorely lacking adequate paved
streets it presents great improvement
over Douglas county road conditions.
In a large degree the fact that the census
OF 1900 shows Superior to have $1,000
population out OF a total of $1,000 for the
entire county was largely a reflection OF
the relative transportation conditions of
the two. The city will be lacking in AL
round developments so long AS Douglas
county is wild unsettled country.
Douglas county will remain wild, nm
settled country unless the county does its
share to furnish the farmer with adequate
roads whereby he can cart his produce
10 the head of the lakes markets.
The work of road building should be
Invested % par,isauship and should be
tdlilch 'h NSai ~ ~" w - ~ '''''N
lines and with view TO future needs II
the best results are to he obtained The
suggestion tia, only main roads rIm,N
ing the county be improved is good one
Could f2s, 900, more or less, be Sc, aside
for legitimate highway construction in
the county for the next ten years, the re-
suits obtained would be beyond the
dreams of the most optimistic.
The fact that the co unty is now heav-
lily in deb, should not deter the appropia-
ton. The increased assessable value OF
rural real estate to be thereby derived
would render the expense an excellen,
investment. 1t must be remembered
also that free rural delivery will be ex-
tended TO this section Az soon as the con-
dtions of the public highways PERM,
and no sooner
The city and county is at a crucial
period. Well directed, intelligent, CON
scientious effort can cause the city and
county to forge ahead and grasp and
maintain its rightful inheritance as the
metropolis of vast expanse OF territory
On the other hand irrIsolution. partisau.
SHY and graft can easily retard the
progress of this section. Stagnstion may
be more normal than agressiyenesS. II is
however, to be earnestly combated. Su-
perior and Douglas county can grow OF
they can stagnste. The odds favor the
latter. At the door OF the city and coun-
ty officials is the burden. On them large
ly will rest future praise or censure