Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1903-06-06
COLONEL BRYAN SPEAKS FOR
GOOD ROADS.

men Of the, Nation fall into lire with
the good roads movement. One of
the notable features of the recent
convention at St. Louis was the bring
ing together of President Roosevelt
and Col. Bryan as speakers from the
same platform. Widely as the two
may differ on other questions. both
are enthusiastic advocates of better
highways. The Colonel had been study
ing the good roads question recently
and has taken a favorable view OF
thn National aid plan. In a recent
speech reported in the Commoner he
gave utterance to the following senti-
n.ents:
II have become exceedingly inter-
ested in this subject, as I have studied
it. In fact, I have been thinking how
many questions there r that enlist
the thought and arouse the interest
Of those who seek to do something for
their fellowmen. Nothing | have
tuI AlCu lAy dllCnSAOn " IA tn0 l0oS ASW
years has seemed to me to come
nearer to the people than this ques-
ton of good country roads. ind
that there is a new field there, and I
have already advanced 70 far that
l have made up my mind to build a lit
tie road out near my farm, but to do
what I al to get my county and my
state to do something in the matter
| of roads.
The expenditure of money for the
permanent improvement OF the COM
mon roads can be defended. first. as
a matter of justice to the people who
live In the country; second, as a mat
ter of advantage to the people who do
not live in the country, and, third.
on the ground that the welfare of the
Nation demands that the comforts
of country life shall, as far as possible,
keep pace with the comforts of city
life.
1t is a well-known fact, or a fact
easily ascertained. that the people in
the country. while paying their full
share of county. state and federal
taxes, receive as a rule only the gen.
eral benefits Of government. while the
people in the cities have, in addition
to the protection afforded by the gov.
eminent, the advantages arising from
the expenditure Of public moneys in
their midst. The farmer not only
pays his share of the taxes, but more
than his share, yet very little of what
he pays gets back to the farmer.
People in the city pay not only less
than their share, Is a rule, but get
back practically all of the benefits
that come from the expenditure of the
peoples money. Let me show you
what I mean when l say that the farm.
er pays than his share: The
farmer has visible property, and in
every form Of direct taxation visible
property pays more than its share
Why? Because the man with visible
property always pays. II he has an
acre Of land the assessor can find 1t;
II he has horses, they be counted;
his cattle can be enumerated. II he
has pigs, they begin to squeei when
the assessor approaches; he cannot
hide them. The farmer hae nothing
that escapes taxation.
The Improvement of the country
roads can be justified also on the
ground that the farmer. the first and
most important Of the producers Of
wealth, ought to be in position to hold
his crop and market at the mast IA.
vorable opportunity, whereas at pres
ent he Is virtually under compulsior
to sell 1t as soon as it is matured be
cause the roads may become impassa
BILE at any time during the fall, winter
or spring.
The farmer has a right to insist up
on roads that will enable him to &c
to town, to church, to the schoo'
house, and to the homes of his neigh
bors. as occasion may require, and
with the extension of rural delivery
he has an additional need for good
roads in order that he may be kept IL
communication with the outside world
Just to what extent action should b.
taken by the federal government, the
state government, the county and thu
precinct. o. in what proportion thu
burden should be borne is q question
for discussion, but that country road.
should be constructed with a view t.
permanent and continuous use Il
scarcely open to debate.
have such confidence in the pa
triotism and intelligence Of the Ameri
can people that I believe that In tn.
clash Of ideas and conflict of views
the best will always be triumphant
the people having the benefit NJ TN.