Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-05-02
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"A PUBLIC DUTY.
The Providing Of Good Highways IL
..&2 Responsibility the Government
r, - Must Recognize.

In the discussion Of the merits of the
BrOwnl0w-Latimer good roads bill be-
fore congress the very first fact to be
considered is that good roads are the
greatest factors of profit, comfort and
convenience ever sent to bless the peo-
pie. OF any land, and that they contrib
ute abundantly to enhance the national
life and to Offset the influences that
tend to concentrate population unduly
in the large cities to the discomfort
and detriment of the community at
large. Another primary fact is that
where financial ability and Intelligent
zeal have striven to solve the road
question the aggregate value Of prop
erty has been so greatly increased by
good roads that it is impossible to
overestimate it.
Every one, from city dweller to
farm owner and farm laborer, has had
occasion to bless the era of the i'm
provement of living conditions brought
about by well-built highways. These
are strong and eloquent object lessons
to impress the truth upon the mind
~ OVCAy 1OuC5t
We have long ago gotten away from
ground on which the contention can
rest that road-making belongs exclu
sively to local ambition, advantage and
growth, because the highways are OF
universal use, contributing to national
profit and convenience, and they are
therefore universal in their good re-
suits. Men have ceased to think, be-
cause the expansion of our national
utilities have disproven such conten-
ton, that the burden of road construc-
ton should rest on the local commu-
nifty. That is simply tradition OF
national policy
Road building is undoubtedly pub
lie duty which rests upon the govern
ment in some form. The bills before
congress present feasible way to
solution of the long-vexed trouble, and
it is gratifying to note the strong SEN
t1ment in every part of the country
for their enactment into law. This
proposition offers a policy of coopera-
ton and seeks to bring in the general
government as factor to work In con-
nectlon with any state or subdivision
thereof, the United States to pay one
half the cost of improvement and the
state or subdivision to pay the other
half There Is every reason why the
people of the country should receive
this help. It is not, in fact, an lnno-
walton. Government is ordained for
the common welfare.
The constitution of the United States
has been found to favor appropria-
tons OF public moneys to promote pr1-
vate enterprise and special interests;
to build up the seacoast states through
river and harbor improvements at the
expense of the inland states; and to
take of the peoples treasure to build
roadways and otherwise improve con-
ditions for half-civilized and I'M
civilized inhabitants of the islands OF
the sea. Surely that constitution can
not be summoned as a barrier against
the progress and development of the
people at home. Government aid to
building is within reach if it's friends
continue to struggle. National aid to
highway improvement is a national OBJ
legation because improved highways
would bring national blessings where
now exist conditions that are hurtful
to national life and prosperity.