The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1905-01-13
CANADA IS AHEAD OF US.
Roads and Road Laws Of Our North
ern Neighbor Are Far SUI
perior to Our Own.

IL 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 Il 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 a very able and practical pub
he 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 arecent report he says
Good roads are essential TO the full
development Of agriculture. In a coun-
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 Good roads
are not a benefit TO any one class of the
community. They are Of universal
value. This Is a matter Of which too
narrow a view has been taken In On
tario. If We must have canals and rail-
WAYS. then we must have good country
roads. II has been taken for granted
that II 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 10 appropriate S1.000,000 for road
Improvement This. for lack Of better
name has been termed government
aid or assistance II is a recogni-
ton Of the value Of good roads TO every
citizen Of the country. and a Just effort
on the part Of the government TO CO.
operate I'm 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 II aims 10
encourage the doing Of a work which is
acknowledged by all as being an impOr-
tant and necessary service. It's 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 hassnot been ere this
devised by government. or compelled |
by the people
"The government Is only exercising
its rightful function as a part Of the ad-
system in providing por-
ton of the cost Of making roads and
the money among the DIFF
Ierent 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
Of funds to improve the
'oads, and the plan has proven entirely
successful where the old system Of de-
pending on the local communities was
/ complete failure.
Even away out in British Columbia
here are many fine roads which are
aid TO be "the delight of tourists" All
hese are built and kept up by the gov
rnment