The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1903-02-11


vantage TO obtain shorter or more
direct road without lessening its
usefulness, or wherever such devil
alton is of advantage by reason of
lessened gradients. He shall also
cause plans and specifications of
such highway or section thereof to
be made for Telfo,d, macadam or
gravel roadway or some other suita-
BILE construction, taking into CON-
sideration climate, soil and mater
ial to be had in the vicinity there
of and the extent and nature of the
trafice likely to be upon the high
way, specifying in his judgment
the kind of road a wise economy
demands. The improved or per-
manent roadway of all highways so
improved shall not be less than 8
or more than "a feet in width, un-
less for special reasons it is requir-
ed that it shall be of greater width.
The constitution of the United
States puts no such limitations up
on the government as to prevent
the 90 operation provided for in
this bill, and SO far as public poll
oy is concerned, that remains to be
settled by the census of opinion
by the people of the United States.
1t was not considered good policy
until very recently, to undertake to
deliver the United States mail to
the people living in the rural dis
tricts, but it has been found upon
trial to be very useful, very econo-
mical and very beneficial to those
living in the rural districts. and
yet for forty or fifty years the peo
pie in cities have been favored by
having their mail delivered at their
doors, while people living in tue
rural districts have been discrimin-
ated against because we had not
discovered, until lately. that it is
good policy to deliver mail alike to
people in the country and in the
city. One is almost as easily OBJ
tainable as the other. There is no
reason why the mail could not have
been delivered to the people living
in the rural districts forty years
ago as we'll as at the present time.
AS matter of fact. the roads were
as good then, for the most part, as
they are now, and the population
in very many of the older states
was less sparse in the rural districts
than at the present time. Now that
the people are manifesting their de-
sire to have the mail delivered in
the country and have demonstrated
that it is possible, their representa-
tives in congress are eager to ap-
propriate almost any sum of mon
ey to bring about this result.
What we have seen and are see-
ing in the development of free rur-
al mail delivery is likely to be re-
peated in the matter of making
permanent improvements to the
highways. Once let it be under
stood that the desired result can be
accomplished through system of
cooperation, aided fostered and en-.
oourged by the general govern
ment, and then let the people of
the country express themselves in
favor of the plan, and you will find
that congress and the constitution
will not be against, but for it.
What members of congress want is
an expression for their constituen-
oy showing what is desired in the
several districts. There are many
rural districts that have no great
rivers, or great harbors, or great
cities which entitle them to public
buildings, but there is no district
but that has many miles of public
roads that need to be permanently
improved. Let the people ask for
it and they will receive the assist
ance which they desire and deserve.
1t is remarkable fact that the
United States government has al
ready appropriated a million dol
lars to Porto Rico for road build
ing, and another million to the
Philippine Islands, and the secre-
tary of war has just made an appeal
to congress through the President
of the United States who strongly
urgers that appeal, to have three
million dollars appropriated for the
use of the Philippine government.
The following is quoted from Sec
retary Roots letter:
Previous experiences indicate
I