Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-09-10
CANADA is AHEAD OF US.
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 gem
orally attributed to the system of gov
eminent aid and supervision which pre-
walls in nearly all European nations.
But 1t 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 well 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 e cocr-
try such as Ontario. dependent upon
agriculture. this means that good roads
, are of very great Importance to the
towns and cities as we'll Coed roads
! are not a benefit to any one class of the
! value. This is matter of which too
| narrow view has been taken in On
! tario. If We must have car ais and rail-
ways, then we must have good country
roads. 1t has been taken for granted
! that if the country as a whole construct
! ed canals and subsidized railways. the
| common roads could take care of them
| selves. But this has not been the case.
THE broader aspect of the question
has recently been given prominence by
| the decision of the provincial govern
ment to appropriate 81 100000 for road
! Improvement. This, for lack of a better
name, has been termed government
| aid or assistance. IL 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 by all as being an impor-
tant and necessary service. its prime
| object Is to equalize and tighten the
cost. The unfairness and injustice of
the present system of taxation for high
way construction is so noticeable as to
! be a matter Of wonderment that some
step of this kind has not been ere this
devised by government, or compelled
| by the people.
THE government Is only exercising
| It's rightful function as part Of the ad-
ministrative system in providing a por-
/ ton of the cost of making roads and
| distributing the 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 provincial government began the
! appropriation of funds to improve the
/ roads, and the plan ;as proven entirely
| successful where the old system OF de-
| pending on the local communities was
! a complete failure.
Even away ont in British Columbia
| there are many fine roads which are
said 70 be "the delight of tourists" All
these are built and kept up by the gov
! eminent.