The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1903-03-07

0Is sA s
S. slll1i.s tn iE'lls 60 ii Ill
sids. md fokf D - s1ea -
Was nssd fos fresh rasd 81 tie
treasury tor laval and other appro-
prIassohs, which Il - are Informed
eculd never have been secured IL
DIR ordinary conditions. and after
these are secured the sgonbIe will
90 to The Hague for adjustment.
1--WE are exactly right TO prepare
Tor war IN time of peace, says
many fellow who rides into town
these winter days over almost i'm
passable roads, largely to get the
news from Venezuela.
1t is unfair in this connection to
contemplate and conjecture what
results would have come had all
these vast sums been turned into
channels oil peaceful industry, but
with it all It would hardly be wise
to see our people enter into pro-
miscuous scramble to see who can
get the most in appropriations.
believe, on the other hand, that
we should exert every influence to
turn the government back from its
present policy OF extravaganza ap-
preparation. Pending this time,
though, might not rural communi-
ties have share in some form OF
the results of our tariff policies,
and while our towns and cities are
working for government buildings
and other aids, il seems to me that
1t would be natural for the man IN
the country to want his share in
the betterment of the roads.
Before you condemn the plan
outright you must remember that
the government has already appro-
priated money, and increasing the
amount every year, for road bu-
reau for the education of the peo-
pie On the question, printing and
sending out thousands of pamph-
lets which are doing vast COED, and
building model sections OF roads
throughout the country that are to
result IN untold benefit. So that,
after all, the idea of national and is
already IN operation, and has been
for more than ten years. And 1t is
now only question as to whether
this policy is to be further extended
by allowing aid to such of the
states or districts as wish to use it,
TO the extent of one-half.
AS to the benefits of experiments
tests, etc, we must see that the
government can do these things for
communities vastly cheaper than
communities can for themselves,
and the road director IN the depart
ment OF agriculture says:
The laboratory for the testing OF
road building materials, established in
December, 1900, through the cooper
alton OF this ONCE and the bureau OF
chemistry, Is in full operation, aud anv
citizen OF the UDite States interes ted
IN the construction OF public highways
can nave road materials tested free of
charge.
These materials are subjected TO an
abrasion test 10 determine their resIs-
lance Ia wear, fermentation test TO
determine tneir cementiug or binding
power, toughness aud a hardness test.
Other information regarding materials
is also furnished 70 applicants, such as
density absorptiyeness and proper
nomenclature.
Coming to the second plan, that
of the state, II Is based on the
idea that the state must take the
lead, control the general road sub
iect under the direction OF a state
bureau, and a skillful road en-
qlneer. New York, New Jersey,
Connecticut and some OF the other
states have such plans now IN act,
I'VE operation. In some of them
the state gives one half, the county
as per cent and owners OF the
property abutting on the road I 5
per cent.
1t is not necessary 10 enter
into an argument 10 SHOW you how
the state can do much that ooun-
ties can not do. Sixteen years age
when l began editing a paper,
took Good roads and better
schoolhouses" as two planks in
my platform. Charles Sumner
said; "The road and schoolmas
ter are the two most important
agents in advancing civilization. 81
The two ideas naturally 60 togeth
er, out here in leXss the schoo
houses have gone ahead OF tbs
roads in the race ana one reason
has been that the state has charge
OF the schools with a well executed
plan under the direction CT stat,
superintendent, while the other /:
stIll left TO com nunIty control
| (iust as the school formerly was,
instead OF having a department IL
charge OF a competent director
Do | hear some one say that thu:
can never be done N Texas, on &C
count OF tn size, and the varlou: