Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1909-02-24
Good Roads Must Be Paid For.
a Few weeks ago Henrico conn

proposition for bonds for road I'M
provement purposes, the aiIirma-
tive vote being SO small as to be
almost negligible. Now an effort
: reported from Richmond TO de-
seat the reelection to the House OF
Delegates of Mr.. G. w. Throck-
morton, who was one of the strong
est advocates of the proposed bond
issue. The News-Leader imputes
his attempt to the position which
Mr.. Throckmorton took on that
question.
When the Henrico verdict was
irst rendered, this newspaper ex-
pressed the opinion that the reason
was 10 be sought i'm popular fear
hat the money would not be prop
erly and economically expended.
rather than in failure on the part
IF the voters to appreciate the in
convenience and costliness OF bad
roads or disinclinaliuu tn 20 dow n
INTO their pockets for the where
wlthal To improve existing condi-
tons. Subsequent developments,
however, would indicate that such
Is not the case. If the motive,
8ctuatin4 those behind the effort
70 retire Mr.. Throckmorton be
-uch a arv imputed 10 them by the
News-l.csder, the voters ST Hen
rico de- not want good roads-that
Is dO un, them bad enough TO con
tribute present pay meat or 10 incUr
future obligations in order Ia
secure them. In no other than an
pnc OF these two WAYS can good
highways lie obtained Nor is this
disposition confined To the county
contagious 10 the Capital City. 4
correspondent of the Brunswick,
Gazette, who is credited with IN
telligeuce and standing i'm his com
munitY, advocates the same do
nothing policy; and even former
Governor Of the State has come
out in public print in opposition
to the good roads movement as
pursued 10y the Improvement
League.
1t ought not to be necessary at
this late day TO point out the cost
liness OF bad roads or to argue the
value of improved highways. To
tail 10 recognize the one or To APP
preciate the other is to convict
oneself OF blindness 60 the teach
ingS OF reason and experience.
Take it where YOU will, the com
munities which have made the
greatest progress in systematic,
enlightened road building are the
communities which enjoy the great
est measure of development, in
dustrially, agriculturally, socially
and in every other direction. II
is SO in North Carolina, i'm New
Jersey and in every other State
where any progress worthy of the
name has been made in highway
construction. Realizing this, the
States through the Union are wax
ing up to the importance Of roaC
building on a systematic and com
prehensive plan. New York ha,
already authorized the issuance q
bonds 10 Che amount of fifty million
dollars for road Improvement pur
poses. The Mary land Legislature,
has under consideration bil
bonding the State to the extent o
SIX millions for a similar purpose
Pennsylvania, New Jersey an,
other Commonwealth also propos
to use their credit to provide per
munent highways. Shall Virgin
ag behind in this important work
Certainly she will if the spirit dis
| played by the people of IIenrico an,
the advocates Of a do-nothing polio
| in other sections of the State is I
prevail. Roads 30 not improv
/ themselves, neither can they b
built by lengthy resolutions, elo
lquent speeches and newspape
communications. Good roads re
quire money, judiciously and sy>
tematically expended. Ii the pee
lple want such roads, they mus
furnish the money, either 10y maE
ing present payment or aSSumin
future obligations. There is n
other way. Persons who oppos
the movement to that end are nc
only blind to their own Interest
but are ban upon developmer
and 4 handicap upon progress. TIL
greater their prominence and III
J more enlightened their intelligcnc