The Elbert County tribune., 1903-10-15

t9 gI tile building OF roads Is
strictly n local matter.
l. IL that the benefits are en-
llGll l6lll iIrcly local and that the
whole expense should be
borne by the local communities. This
is not the view taken in the most
progressive countries OF Europe. There
the building and maintenance OF roads
is one OF the important functions OF
government, France, Germany and
Switzerland are covered by u network
OF the finest roads In the world. As
result the western half OF Europe is
the pleasure ground of the world. The
revenue derived from tourists Is one
OF the principal sources OF Income for
people Of nearly all classes. hut with
out these good roads, this revenue
could never be secured.
The aim OF the people In those coun-
tries is to make their grand noun
tnins. tli7lr beautiful lakes their lively
valleys their castles and monuments
easily accessible by means OF fine
hard. smooth roads.
What contrast appears when we
turn to our own country. We have
the finest scenery In the world i'm the
great mountains Of the West. but II
is practically inaccessible. Except ms
they get glimpses OF II from car win
dows. the grandeur OF our mountains
and canyons. and The beauty OF our
mountain lakes. streams and valleys
are scaled book to the general trav-
cling public. And this will always bc
the case so long as steep stony noun
tnln trails are the only means of
travel beyond the railway lines. ln-
deed much OF our finest scenery can
not he reached even by such trails.
If the United States Government. In
co operation with the States and local
communities would build great smooth
highways. making the wonders and
beauties OF our great West Cnsily nc
cesslble to tourists IN n few years the
tide OF travel would be turned west
ward. Not only would millions Of
dollars spent annually by Americans
in Europe be kept AZ home. but other
millions would be brought to our
shores by tourists from foreign lands
But the natural attractions or our
country are not the only things which
are made Inaccessible by the lack OF
good roads. Our places of historic
interest are mostly in the same cate
CORY Take, for Instance. Monticello.
home and tomb of the immortal def
ferson. FCw Americans even know
where ii Is. much less visit it. Monil-
cello Is only three miles from the city
of Charlottesville, Va. which Is OH
two great trunk lines Why. then. is
II so little known Because three
miles or about as bad road as can he
imagined lie between 1t and the rail-
way station. One cannot travel over
that narrow. steep. rough muddy
country road without feeling OF
shame. At present nn effort Is being
made by small baud Of patriotic men
and women TO build what Is known
as the jefferson Memorial Road to
make Monticello accessible to the pub
lie, but only IL beginning has been
made. ana they are finding II uphill
work 10 raise funds TO complete the
task.
But after all the encouragement OF
travel is not the most Important rea-
son for building OF good roads. They
are absolutely necessary for the pros
perity and happiness Of the people.
The era of railroad building on n large
scale is practically Mt an end. In the
course of commercial and industrial
development we have reached n point
where the great problem OF Improving
the common roads must be faced. We
can no longer treat It as local ques-
ton. We have tried that for three
quarters of n century. and In nearly
every epctfnu n tiia eouutrv tho mis-
erable results are apparent The good
roads problem will never he solved
locally. 1t is too vast II can be
solved only by the genius. the wealth.
the labor and the patriotism OF the
whole people. a great national move
ment Is necessary. In cooperation OF
the nation, the States the counties and
the local communities lies the solution
of the problem.