The Lewiston teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1905, 1903-01-06
ALL WORK FOR GOOD ROADS
Merns Big Saving to Taxpayers and Farm.
ers-Good Roads Less Expensive than Bad

Merns q Big Saving to Taxpayers and Farm.
srs-Good Roads Less Expensive than Bad
Ones.
Now that the Idaho legislature is about
ready for business, an effort should be
made to have some laws passed for the
Improvement of our roadways. The
present law is not only farce but CON-
pels the squandering of the taxpayers
money with no adequate showing for the
sum squandered. The work done is not
permanent and i'll many instances leaves
the roads in worse condition than before
the work was done. This can be seen on
nearly every road in the country. It
will continue to be thus until q system Of
road improvement is devised that will be
followed in every district and under COM
petent authority. In this work the state,
county and community should act.
Agitaie the question in your neighbor-
hood and get it before the legislature.
gentleman who is an authority upon
'oad building and connected with the
government good roads commission has
this to say:
"Our public roads are as much com.
mercial highways as our railroads. Seven
ty-fye per cent of the commerce Of the
world starts upon the public roads of the
country, and if there is a steep hill, a
mudhole or bridge, these of necessity
regulate the loads that are to be hauled
1t seems useless to build railroads cover.
ing different parts of the state unless
proper public roads can be built to the
stations so that products can be hauled
at reasonable expense from points in
the interior. Th.re is no reason why
roads should continue 10 remain in poor
condition.
"The general contention is that the
cost of bad roads to the farmers of this
country annually amounts to $500 900 900.
Bad roads cost more than good ones do.
Not only the farmer is concerned about
good roads, but the city tnau-the bank
er, the clerks and all have to contribute
to the loss Cf the farmer. Another state
ment is that it costs three times as much
to haul ton on bad road as on a good
one. These are the conclusions reached
by men who have studied the question in
all of its details.
"The following are interesting compari-
sons o. the draft on perfectly level roads
of different kinds: If it requires 40
horses to draw a certain load on sandy
road it will require 20 on dirt road. I3
on a cobblestone, three and half on the
best Belgian block, one and half on the
best asphalt, and one horse to draw the
same load on iron rails. On sand road
to haul two tons at speed of three to IA
feet per second requires an expenditure
of about 1876 pounds 'of tractive force,
whereas on asphalt it would require "a
pounds, or in general the same power
would haul nearly II times as much. OF
it would take. ~ horses to haul on a sand
road what one horse could haul on asphalt
or what six horses could haul on the best
macadam. The tractive effort on good
dirt road is less than on poor r,acadam
road.
"Now, the question of good roads il
primarily an industrial question. It is .,
the very basis Of the transportation ques'
ton. Its solution means larger. broader
and better commercial and social condi
tions, and the people Of this district car
! 40 et~ns A. -
highways over which are transported al
their commodities before they reach the
great railroads. 1t is necessary for thu
people of each locality to work ont thes,
problems, according TO the conditions in
volved Communities should Join to
gether in the construction Of the com
mon highways. 1t will not do mucl
. good to build short stub Of road if 20,
plunge into the mud at the end Of it ol
reaching county line.
"The New Jersey system requires th
state to pay third Of the cost Of build
ing, the county = third, and the com
muuity through which the road runs,
third. This seems to BE- . good methoi
In California convicts break up the roc
aud 1t is sold to the farmers who wsr
the roads.
EVERY county should enter upon th
road building a. : business. II shoul
use every available convict sentenced :
the Mayor Of the citv or BY the Count
Magistrates or county judges. Or BY Il
circuit judges in that county. where Il
term Of sentence does not exceed 4
years. 1t should prepare portable stocl
ades, 20 that these prisoaess cas- eat q
sleep on the road a near q possible 70 q
point where they cease working eAchd
They must be supplied with suitah
tools aud implemeuts. % tlhat they q
labor to the best possible advantage.
!. "Where the number Of prisoners ava
q T. L. 4