The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1904-08-26
CANADA is AHEAD OF US.
Roads and Road Laws of Our North
ern Neighbor Are Far Su-
perior to Our Own.

1t is subject for frequent comment on
the part of travellers that the roads OF
Europe are far superior to those OF the
United States; and this result is gen
orally attributed to the system OF gov
eminent aid and supervision which pre-
walls in nearly all European nations.
But it is not so generally known that
our nearest neighbor, Canada, is also
ahead of us, not only in the character
of the roads, but in the matter OF road
legislation.
Hon A W. Campbell, highway COM
missioner of Ontario, is an enthusiast
on the subject of good roads, and at the
same time very able and practical pub
lie official He is quite we'll known to
the good roads people of the United
States, as he has attended and addressed
a number of important conventions IN
this country. In recent report he says:
Good roads are essential to the full
development of agriculture. In coun-
try such as Ontario, dependent upon
agriculture, this means that good roads
are of very great Importance to the
towns and cities as well. Good roads
are not benefit to any one class OF the
community. They are OF universal
value. This is matter OF when 100
narrow a view has been taken in On
tario. If we. must have canals and rail-
ways, then we must have good country
roads. 1t has been taken for granted
that if the country as whole construct
ed canals and subsidized railways, the
common roads could take care of tfsSm-
selves. But this has not been the casa.
1.-THE broader aspect of the question
has recently been given prominence by
the decision of the provincial govern
ment to appropriate $1,000,000 for road
improvement This, for lack of better
name, has been termed government
aid or assistance 1t is a recogni-
ton of the value of good roads to every
citizen of the country, and just effort
on the part of the government to CO.
operate in procuring them.
THE object of the present measure
is not so much to aid by the gratuitous
distribution of money, but has for its
aim a nobler purpose. While it aims TO
encourage the doing of work which IS
acknowledged b. all as being an impor-
tant and neces. iary service. its prime
object is to e.ualize and tighten the
cost. The unf ~irness and injustice of
the present syssem of taxation for high
way construct IN is so noticeable as to
be a matter o. wonderment that some
step of this XII i'd has not been ere this
devised by government, or compelled
by the people
"The government is only exercising
its rightful function as part of the ad-
ministrative aystem in providing por-
ton of the lost of making roads and
distributing !he money among the diff
ferent municipalities entitled to it.
This function can be performed by the
provincial government only"
In Nova Scotia nearly Is years ago
the proviE eial government began the
appropriation of funds to improve the
roads, and the plan has proven entirely
successful where the old system of de-
pending eli the local communities was
| a complete failure.
Even away out in British Columbia
there are many fine roads which are
said to he 'the delight of tourists" AL
these ara built and kept up by the gov
eminent.