Charlevoix county herald., 1909-03-13
Good Roads
Board of Trade Committee Sub
NIT Report.

To the Officers and Members Of East
Jordan and South Arm Board Of Trade
Your Committee on Public Improve
ments would respectfully report that
we have given the condition OF our
public roads careful consideration.
We would say that we are deeply i'm.
pressed with the Importance OF good
roads In their relation to the public
welfare, and that we are also aware OF
the fact that whatever their condition
may be there can usually be found a
number Of citizens who seem content
with the existing order and who are
apt TO misjudge the motives OF
those who seek Improvements. We
realize that specific recommendations
might seem personal to some who
perhaps are as deeply interested in
public road improvement as ourselves.
Therefore, while we do not believe
that we should allow adverse criLi-
cism to swerve us from course that
we deem proper, yet, 1t is our desire
to so present our views as 10 secure
friendly interest and harmonious
action. We believe that as our An
nual Spring Election approaches we
should all unite in an earnest effort
TO better conditions. Having in mind
the fact that there Is always oppOr-
tunity for improvement. we should
seek the correction OF past mistakes,
to strengthen the administration of
our public work where possible and to
provide ample means 70 accomplish
the ends sought.
That there Is an opportunity for
vast improvement in the construction
OF our public roads we believe Is a
fact that few will question. While II
review Of past mistakes might prove
interesting, yet, we feel that their
consideration would be of little value
here. We simply wish to call aitcn-
tiOn 10 that which we deem essential
to progressive administration Of our
highway laws. l, Plan. ,. Means.
3, Officials.
/. We believe that In practice the
plans for future road construction
should be more systematic than they
now are, and that they should regard
permancncy as a matter of first i'm
pOrLance. We believe That the patch-
work method is nearly Il thing Of the
past as IT should be. Whatever may
be said for or against the adoption of
the County Road System we believe
that its adoption would soon place
our road construction upon a more
systematic basis with a view To per-
manency.
We believe that the County Road
System would not only raise the
standard OF road construction but
would also furnish an incentive for
every township to come up to that
standard.
While we concede that permanent
roads must be built gradually and at
considerable expense, yet, believing
that they will be the most economical
in the end and keeping in mind the
greatest good to the greatest number,
we would encourage the adoption Of
plans whereby they may be secured.
q Favoring a progressive plan. we
believe that every Taxpayer should
willingly appropriate sufficient means
to carry out the plan. 1t is idle TO
discuss or adopt plans unless we are
willing to supply the means.
3. Having the plan and the means,
we believe that last but OF irst impor-
tance to assure any degree Of SUCCESS
is the selection Of competent highway
officials. We believe that this selec.
tiOn Is too often considered as mat
ter to meet the demands, of political
eXpedency.
We believe that the sole Qualitica-
tiOns OF candidate for the Office of
Highway Commissioners worthy Of
consideration are his honesty and
ability, ability to do frst-class work
and honesty to give value received for
the. funds placed in his hands. We
welcome the tendency Of the times to
disregard partisan and sectarian diff
ferences and to choose public officials
more in accord witha standard Of
efficiency. Believing that. much good
must come from an aroused public in
terest we confidently hope for better
work.
Signed, j. f. KENNY,
Fl. l.. OLNEY,