Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1903-02-12
WORKING THE ROADS,"

as to do away with the antiquated
practice of - working the roads"
in payment Of taxes. All taxes
should be paid in cash. The time
is past for continuing such in
efficient and unsatisfactory methods
rs that which still obtains in the
matter of building and maintain
ing our county roads. 1t is simply
traditional and without justifica-
ton in reason, theory or practice.
The prevailing custom of accept
ing labor had its origin in times
when from great scarcity of money,
all commodities including manual
labor, were directly interchangeable
on the basis of the monetary
measure of values. Wheat and
barley were exchanged for flour at
the mill; wool was taken to the
weaver and puller who, in return,
gave rolls of yarn, jeans and
lindsey. The carpenter, cabinet
maker, and cobbler, the tailor and
tanner, each and all exchanged
their product and wares and drove
such bargains as they could in the
absence of the money medium of
exchange. 1t is because of the
scarcity of money that laws were
enacted providing for the accep-
lance of labor on the public roads
in lieu of cash. The levy was
made per capita and all paid them
alike, in personal service or cash,
whether rich or poor, both the
landowner and the landless. This
primitive custom has been kept in
vogue, especially in the western
states, with some modification for
period much longer than reason
and good economy will justify. 1t
is now high time that the crude
and unmethodical system of road
building and repairing was sup
pllemented by such rational meth
DDS as would be in keeping with
the progress of the age.
Road building is science, a
business of its self, justice the
same as railway or canal build
ing. 1t should be done by en-
gineers and experts. Public road
improvements should be carried
on like any other business, with
care, method and system. All
construction and repairs should be
done under the supervision of a
competent engineer. All improve
ments should be felt to responsible
bidders. The making Of good
roadways requires skill and pains
taking work and a knowledge of
material, as well as the general
Typographical conditions of the
country, which require different
construction methods in different
sections. 1t will not be until all road
taxes are paid exclusively in cash
that the country will have good
roads. 1t is the duty of the leg
islature to provide good road
law.
The farmer should be particular
ly interested in having good roads,
because he is heavily taxed to
maintain them and because he has
more occasion to use them in the
prosecution Of his business. And
the last consideration may often
outweigh the first in dollars and
cents, when the moving of heavy
loads for considerable distance
over poor roads is considered.
And this view of the case should
not be lost sight of. 1t is not
those alone who drive for pleasure
or business that should demand
an improved condition of roads.
This is for their interest and con.
venience. But the farmer who
has to move his produce to market
needs to use the roads in the daily
prosecution of his business, and he
gains or loses in this direction
according as the roads are in good
or bad condition. Good roads in
such cases mean the saving of time,
the greater durability of vehicles
and the less wear of teams.
Nothing will go so far towards
reconciling farmers or Others
ceecops gently expended and
devoted to improvements of a
perment character eachyear. This
legislature Will confer a distinc,
benefit upon the state if it will
enact such legislation as will
lnaugurate sCLe system by