Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-04-25

up to the year 1888, when England
by general statute set 1t aside under
the conceded declaration that nothing
was clearer than that good and per-
manent roads could not be made
within the scope Of it's provisions.
England, after exhausting all of the
ignorance and plumbers regarding this
proposition that the human mind could
invent, adopted the system invented
by Macadam and Telford, two of the
greatest road experts that civilization
has ever produced.
From that date these countries be-
gan to come up out Of the mud and
their common roads began to be
treated under an intelligent and bust
ness like system.
Need New Laws.
These laws will no more produce
permanent roads in America than they
did In Europe and the quicker Iowa d.
vorces herself from the present road
system the quicker we will begin to
make permanent roads. In all the
governments of civilized countries
there are but two that are without
laws that produce permanent road
building. These two are the United
States and Russia. If Russia had bet
ter roads, had begun to make roads
with the other governments, it would
probably be making better progress
today in getting out of the hands Of
the little Japs.
"The federal government has con-
tributed since the formation of the
union more than $450,000000 to the
Improvement of rivers, harbors and
inland lakes, and in all of its history
but S14,000,O00 in the matter of road
making and this expenditure made
early in the years of the nineteenth
century. The claim for national aid
has met with stubborn resistance in
congress of the United States. 1t is
claimed that there is no provision I'M
der the constitution whereby this aid
can be extended Perhaps the best
answer to be made to this claim is
what has been done in the past under
that sacred document.
"In addition to what the federal gov
eminent has done with the rivers, har-
bors and inland lakes, it has given Of
the public domain $13s.OOO,00O acres
Of land to aid in the construction Of
railroads. Since the government &C
quired the Philippine islands congress
has voted and expended many millions
of dollars on the common roads of
those islands.
Interstate System.
"They point out the fact that rail-
If the railroads are interstate then any
common road that reaches from a rail-
road to barn yard, any place is part
of that great system as much as Of the
main track of any of the big trunk
lines. Eliminate the loaded farm
wagon finding it's way from the farm
to the railroad station and you destroy
the usefulness of the railroad Itself.
Every year the government is extend
ing the rural free delivery of the mails.
Every year they are making more and
more use of the common roads. There
is no reason why the local people
should furnish roads to the govern
ment free of charge, should build
roads, bridge streams, and allow the
government the free use of them.
"The money gathered in by the
federal government belongs to the
people and ought to be returned to be
used in a way that will bring the
greatest good to the greatest number
We believe that its use on the common
| roads will have this result
What Shall We Do7
What shall we do with this propo
sition? It is living question. 1t is 8
question forcing itself upon u.s. 1t must
be solved. Shall we solve it in way
to bring contentment and happiness tc
our people, to enrich and beautify oul
rural communities, or will we turr
back the pages Of civilization and re
! pei progress?"