Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1906-04-19
A PUBLIC DUTY.
The Providing Of Good Highways Is
Responsibility the Government
Must Recognize.

In the discussion of the merits OF the
Brownlow-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 a%bundantly 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 wne 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
of every honest inquirer.
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 a tradition OF
national policy.
Road building is undoubtedly a pub
lie duty which rests upon the govern.
ment in some form. The bills before
congress present a feasible way to
solution of the long-vexed trouble, ant
1t is gratifying to note the strong sen.
timent 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 genera
government as a factor to work in con
nection 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 othel
half. There Is every reason why thu
people of the country should receive
this help. 1t is not, in fact, an limo
walton. Government is ordained TO
the common welfare.
The constitution Of the United State
has been found to favor appropria
tons of public moneys to promote pri
vate enterprise and special interests
to build up the seacoast states through
river and harbor improvements at tn
expense of the inland states; and t
take of the peoples treasure to bull
! roadways and otherwise improve con
1 ditions for half-civilized and III
civilized inhabitants of the islands o
the sea. Surely that constitution can
not be summoned as a barrier agains
e the progress and development of tn
1 people at home. Government aid t
building is within reach If it's friend
continue to struggle. National aid t
highway improvement is a national oh
S legation because improved highway
would bring national blessings wher
now exist conditions that are hurtfl
D 20 national life and prosperity.