Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1909-01-14
THURSDAY, JAN, IA. 1909.
Good Roads for Kansas.

Inc star contained u lew uhys abV
an interview with j. B, Case on good
roads, which was reproduced in the
REFLECTOR. II has this week the
following editorial on the matter
which is OF especial interest:
"In an interview In the Star this
morning Mr.. J. B. Case Of Kansas
gives some interesting information to
the people as 20 the growth Of the
good roads movement In California.
Mr.. Case has just returned from a
visit to the Pacific coast states and
declares that in California in prac-
tically every county the work OF
actual construction Of macadam roads
is in progress. Here is one point MIR.
Case brings out that the Kansas
statesmen will do we'll to consider:
'.Some people in Kansas argue that
the building Of rock roads would be
too expensive in some parts Of Kansas
where they have to haul rocks two or
three hundred miles. The California
people do not think 1t is too expen-
sive and much Of the rock for their
roads is hauled farther than that. l
met farmer In California who had
lived for many years in Kansas and
moved to California few years ago.
l asked him about the expense Of the
road work. He told me that he had
no idea Of the cost Of the road work a
mile In California. My inference
from his remarks was that he did not
worry much about the cost Of mile
Of road so long as the work was prop
erly done and the money disbursed
properly. He told me that Los An
geles county, outside the city Of Los
Angeles, mind you, had arranged to
spend 81 million dollars
'The farmers Of Kansas are not at
ali unlike the ex-Kansan Mr.. Case
mentions. They will not be fright
ened at the cost II they get the roads.
The people Of Kansas are more re-
sponsive to appeals both to the public
spirit and the public conscience than
can be found anywhere else in the
world. They are not only hearers
Of the word,' hut they are doors Of
word They obey the injunction TO
'Etopl Look and Listen, and then
they 60 ahead. 1t is not the Kansas
spirit that has kept Kansas tied hand
and foot to the old mossback idea that
the roads Of the fathers are good
enough for the present day. That
condition is due to the near-sighted
policy oi its statesmen who have
made political capital out Of the cry
lower taxes and economy
''Kansas will respond VI right to
the governor and the legislature that
will introduce a do something policy
as against the save something JEFF
ferson's administration in the nation
is remem bered because Of the Louisi-
ana purchase. 1t cost something,
but 1t was wise Investment. Seward
purchased Alaska and the statesman
ship that prompted that investment
is appreciated BY the nation. It cost
something, but II was wsrth some
thing, And the people never regret
the money invested that gets results.
That's the reason Mr.. Cas- found
this ex-Kansan In California so we'll
satisfied with bis taxes that we're be-
ing expended for good roads. And
that is precisely what the next adj
ministratiOn and the next legislature
will find in Kansas II they give The
people good roads.
,WhAt Kansas needs is for its
public men 10 measure up to Its
public spirit. The failure to do 1t
has occasioned 3 good many Tevolu-
tions' In Kansas politics."