The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1906-06-19

- HERE Is prevalent in the minds
of thoughtful men such unanim-
/ ity OF sentiment and conclusion
as to the necessity for good
roads, and the fact is so well settled
that there can be no systematic con-
struction OF roads without government
cooperation, that It is hard to see
how it can be much longer delayed.
While agitation for good wagon ways
is as old as the first settlement in our
system of civilization, it.has been until
within the past few years subordinated
to the wonderful extension of railroad
lines. In the earlier days Of the re-
public the duty and obligation of the
government to aid in the construction
of wagon roads in the States was not
seriously denied. The necessity for
government aid is admitted almost
everywhere, only four or five Of the
wealthiest States pointing the excep-
ton, and these without exception adv0-
cate government cooperation. Presi-
dent Roosevelt not long ago, speaking
on the subject, declared good roads the
main hope of retaining the energies of
our young people in the country, and
thus stop the flow from country to
city, where every avenue of business
is already over-crowded. Other emf
nent men contend for good roads on
the ground that the farmer, the first
and most important producer Of wealth.
ought to be placed in position to hold
his crop and market it at the most fav-
orable opportunity, whereas under bad
roads he is virtually under compulsiOn
to sell it as soon as it is matured,
because the roads may become impass-
able at any time during the fall, winter
or spring. The intelligent people Of
town and city plead for good roads be-
cause the food they consume must
come from the farm and be paid for
according as it is able to reach the
market. The farmer, the mainstay and
dependence of the government in every
emergency, feels that his substance is
annually swallowed up in the unhappy
conditions that deny him reasonable
market Communication at his best
time to sell. He is discontinued at
his lot when remembering that he pays
sixty per cent. of all the taxes, and yet
receives no direct consideration at the
hands of government, while unnum'
bered millions have been given from
the National treasury to better condi.
tons everywhere except upon the farm.
The man who digs out Of the soil
that which sustains all progress and
prosperity knows that while govern
ment aid has been lavished upon
ocean-going commerce, not one dollar,
since the construction of the old Cum
berland road, has been expended by
the United States to facilitate COM
merce between the farm and the mar
ket. 1t is no wonder, in view of all
this, that the agricultural classes look
upon the National Aid to Good Roads
movement as promising their lCDg-de-
ferred material salvation, The Ques-
ton of National aid to good roads is
absolutely above and beyond the realm
o. party politics. 1t is advocated by
strong men of every political faith.
and no man desiring the best in the
material development and continuing
greatness Oh tuS country WILL SSSA ~
inject into it any element of party
prejudice. To do SO would be to-
detract from a proposition at once seri-
ously important to the commercial. in
dustrial and social advancement of all
the people in every part Of the land,
and would be sacrilege to be des-
pissed. The Good Roads question is a
pressing question which, soon or late.
will have to be recognized by National
aid In cooperation with the States.