The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-01-22
PULLING FOR GOOD ROADS.

The Tribune is UntclgAcdIF Sl"n W
sec such n wide and keen interest
takon in the good roads convention
which is TO meet in this city next
"Wednesday, and remain in session Tor
three days. The delegations arc full
and representative, aud the occasion
promises 10 be one, not only OF great
interest. but of much value. not only
10 this State, but also 70 surround
ing States; as we see that other COM
monwealths, notably Idaho, are JOIN
inc IN this convention They arc wei
come, indeed We arc glad TO SEQ as
many as possible come, because the I'M
portance of the work 10 be done can not
be overestimated.
The Tribune has been insistcnt, in
season and out of season, for great
many wears, in urging good roads in
this State. We urged the passage OF
the Brownlow hill, which was pend
ing so long in Congress, and which, II
passed would have given Fedora aid to
add to State aid in the making of good
roads.. But under the old system of
commissionership management,
good road making was "A farce and
and chiefly graft. The only. exception
we know Of was the macadamzed piece
of road between this city and Murray,
made by the Liberal County Commits
sioners; and that has been shamefully
neglected. II was impossible, in general,
To make any headway. We are now
hopeful, however. that practical results
may be realized to helpful extent
by reason OF the transfer of the care
Of the roads from the County Commits
sioncrs to a state-appolnted authority
This will ccntralize the work. will mako
il uniform, and it is to be hoped will
add State aid where local Willingness
local ability to do it all.
There can be no doubt in the world
If the Importance of good roads. These
would save their cost many times
over to the people of the State in the
course of very few years. Well
made roads arc easier taken care of
han badly made roads. A badly made
-oad is never serviceable, and it re
luires immediate and costly repairs
rom the first. On the other hand, a
we'll ll.madc road. constructed according
o the best modern expert specifications,
S road that will last a long time
Without any repairs ut all, and the re-
,airs of such a road are always at a
minimum.
We have urged for a good many |
'ears that the County Commissioners
n this county should expend the money |
III making few miles Of frst-class
oads, letting the yearly repairs be
made by the poll-taX laborer. But the |
;ounty Commissioners were 10th to let |
70 of the graft and the ''influenco'
md favoritism that the expenditure of
his money would bring to them. We
lope to see all of this feeling elimi |
.ated under the now system and to see
rigid adherence to sound public policy |
Prevail.
II will not be possible under the new
ystem, any more than ii would have |
,een under the old, to make all the
Dads in the State good roads at once;
,ut n persevering, intelligent effort will |
rake them all good roads IN the course
# time, and that is all that can be ex
,ccted The main thing is to make |
good beginning, hold fast to the best
possible models Of road building, and |
,crsevere in the work, There is ample |
material here in Utah close at hand for |
lie making of the best of roads. The |
Utilization of this material, combined |
With consistent, energetic purpose to
10 the best possible thing, and the most |
# it every year, will bring results.
Utah can become famous for her good |
oads. Shall the State seek such fame, |
ind the profit and advantage that go
With it? We vote yes on that PROPOSE |