Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-06-17
BETTER COUNTRY ROADS

All over the country-north, east, south and west-where progress and enterprise have es- tablished themselves or are making inroads into the unploughed fields of mossbackism, good roads is theme of intense interest and thous- ands of dollars are being expended in the bet torment of public highways. In slow going Georgia the news dispatches of but yesterday told of millions that are soon to be expended on the roads of that state-in fact 1t is the aim of Georgia to bear the proud distinction of maintaining the best kept roads in the United States. Carrying out this program to a sue cessful issue Georgia will go to the fore with monstrous and rapid strides and will early rank first with the states of southland Georgia fully realizes this and so will the people of any oth- CT state or community if they will but give the matter careful thought. Good roads arc simply the modern trail blazers to the full and profit able development of the section that possesses them
 For some time past the question of better roads in Gila county has been up for discussion and it has found recognition in the platform pledges of the different parties, which would indicate the people have a keen interest ill the subject and are desirous of prompt and per manent action. But in this matter there is not
 in this county and there never should be mix ture of politics. It is question for the consid- eration of hard-headed business men, such as constitute the present board of county super vsors, and the Silver Belt notes with profound satisfaction that the board has taken the ques- ton of better roads up and proposes pushing the issue until the county is provided with good thoroughfares, or the people say that they do not want them. The people, however, will be with the supervisors in this matter. It has been proposed and the proposition should meet with hearty acclaim, that a bond issue of $l00,- 900 or more be made for this purpose. At pres ent in round numbers something like $12,000 annually are expended in simply making passa. ble the roads of the county. This amount is about all the available cash for the purpose, and while good judgment has been used ill em- poying it, conditions are such that 1t affords only temporary relief, and year after year the work must be repeated, with nothing permanent to show for the expenditure. bond issue of say $l50,000 or $200000 would place in the hands of the supervisors sufficient funds to- build enduring road beds and the expense of them for all time to come would be nominal The cost of such bond issue to the taxpayers would be no greater during the of the bonds than is the cost of mak- ing temporary improvements to the roads as at present. The people would have something to- show for their money and would enjoy the profits and pleasures of passable highways att no increased expense, while after the bonds had been paid off the cost of maintaining roads would be very small There are few legal ob structions in the way of holding general coun- ty election to vote on these proposed road bonds but they can be easily removed and when this is done an election should be immediately called The supervisors should lose no time in this matter. The people are not only anxious for the improvements but are ready and will ing to vote for bond issue for this purpose.
 Mr. Roosevelt is off on a monkey hunt Hel