The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1903-01-29

ono Of The Greatest ouss-
tons Of to day.


Every foreigner coming to this eoan-
sry i amazed on the one hand al our gen
erai proereesivcness and enterprise, aud
utterly disgusted On the other hand at
our almost total lack of good roads and
our almost utter want Of appreciation Of
the advantages Of properly improved high
uags Asa result ofthis deplorsblc roads
have attained a World-~ide reno~n. which |
greatly detracts ftom our reputation Of
being an exceptionally enlightened and
progressive people"
"The willing submission Of the Ameri- |
eau people 20 the needless and burdensoue
condition Of our country roads Is a remark
able circumstance Careful study OF this
matter seems 10 indicate that this is Who'll [
., due 20 lack Of kuowledge and spprecia-
tion Of the comparative benefits Of inn
proved roaduays over bad ones aud the
ease and ios cost 10y which the best Of
roads may be secured
GROWTH Is NEW YORK.
This has been demonstrated by the
wonderful growth in popularity Of the
road movement In the state OF New York
during The past four yoars. The FIRST
roads we're built IT, New York by STATE aid
1883. when only $4,000 was spent under
state aid in the building Of fifteen miles
Of countr, roads One-han of the cost is
I paid Boy the state aud ono-half 10y the
counties and towns boz which the roads
are built On December D, 1902, tho Nev
D
3 iions from The counties OF the state for
building 2007 miles Of roads, to COS, about
i si6.uoo.o0o, au increase of a30 fold, or
2j00u per cent iu four years. From this
it would appear that the enormous advan-
tarcs OF improved roads can be fully roal-
ircd Bog the average American only by
actual personal experience and obscrva-
t'on."
"lt be- wholly inconsistent With the char
actetisiic enterprise of Americans that
they should willingly submit Co the cou-
iinuou- aud needless losses due Co Jack
of good roads. especially when these icss-
cs atc so srcat 300 a. few wears as Co equal
the co-i 90 building thc hucst roads in the
vo-ld throughout the entire country
Thi- remarkable fact can only ao account
cd foe a- thc result Of our dcp'orahic ir.
uorauco of ho comparative economics
comfort. and rleasurcr- OF good and bad
roads"
MANY MILLIONS WASTED.
"lt i- couser,atively estimated hs gov.
eminent omciais ihat vc arc nccdie..l,
.ia.Ir. os ,.,.ti,.. aver stno 1000 ono s..t
'H'-
'''' ''N '' over f-'''''''' Tor every work
'"- N'' '" ''' N''' ""n 80 '"a'' 'an'' 'h'
OBJ n'Af'1 - 'aeh year ior every person 30
p fhi- country"
..Trf. ..ti,..t. 81. f,rtb. s.r..t mana.
'"' '""' "' account '' '"' i"''''N
Coz 1isadNantaec-. uiseomiotie aud incon
lfruirncs.. of bad roads which would prob
ttI, exceed th. direct ,,,n.,.a I,..
II ..,
''''. .N'-' '", que vase" "'"'-" i l.'"l
''"'''' DID, -''' ''-'' "'''1 amount
an enormous SUM. in NeW York aud cthr
state. ihi, increase Boo selling values ha
Ieguaicd from $50 io 500 an acre iu man.
cases
"Au increase 90 only - au acre tne c-ti
. would amount to something Ike S',uuu,
tuN. N'N, ar more Than enough CO. build OBJ
best aud lne-t maiu roads in tnc world
about 100000" miles, throughout thc on
tire country several tmes over hA ih
brick track road system N1 which the uer
ID ei roads can "c nuht ior cost nhic
should uot exceed an average oi etouN
4 milo. The interest on this Sum % 900.
N'',V'N 90 pes cent would build tIi ih
ID mainly Travelled foads 900 The country o.
- less chan ieu years al a cost OF only 40 pc
cent % the increased farm value.
b. INCREASE OF Farm VALUES.
..r,.r.. aim. 81 .r,.,r. tl..t AZ. v..,f3 r,
l,ei,. i.,,.st. r-,,, i.,,,,,in., ann mai
-..fs i. ~. t,..,..,.. III fsr,e ,,l.,. +.
I,.. ....lt,t,., and on.-b.ff f,is %
SSH ,sr .,nt al. tbeir co.t
e "a 8ir,.f .,,,,... ,f 5000 0ooo,o a vol.
s-rrel No. r,nf t.t,,..i would ..sr
- ~ ...t ,r Sll ,oo nno noo Tifs ,,,
six tir,.. 81, $40 hen r.,t of tbe ,e-.s.,
ny costs OF thc main roads for tho outir