The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1911-06-30

but perfectly natural result of good
roads is population. Buyers buy
more readily when they can market
easily Take these igues. In %
counties where there was only is
per cent of improved roads, the pop
ulation decreased in the ten years
from 1890 to 1900 total of 1880.
In 25 counties where 40 per cent of
the roads were improved, the popu-
lation increased in the same period
l77S,OO0.
The effect of good roads on school
attendance needs no proof. In the
five states having the best roads the
average attendance is II per cent of
enrolment In the five states having
the fewest good roads the attendance
averages only SO per cent.
| With these figures on school 1t is
not surprising to find that lack OF
education end bad roads are associ-
ated.
In the foregoing article will be
found food for reflection. I know
by having travelled through the coun-
tries of Great Britain, France, Ger
many, Scandinavia, Belgium and
Italy that the farmer there has much
the advantage over the farmer here
because of good road facilities and
particularly is this true of Great Bri-
tain, France and Germany. In these
countries it is not unusual to see one
horse pulling as heavy load as the
team may be seen many time over
our average roads. Macadam is the
principle material used in construc-
ton and has been for hundreds of
years. I hope no one will overlook
the fact that in these Rock Mountains
there is sufficient rock to supply our
macadam roads as long as we need
to use it. I do not intend, however
to deal with the material that shall
be used, but would like to say few
words concerning the laws under
which we may construct good roads.
Good Roads Laws
1t has always appeared to me to
be an interstate and national subject
as we'll as a local one and whenever
uniform laws are enacted that will
handle the matter with economy and
vet sufficiently elastic to meet the var
ious conditions, we shall be making
better Roadway than We have made in
the past. | observe with a great deal
of pleasure this news item from
Washington
washington, June 20.-Bills Gre
ating a national road commission
were introduced simultaneously in
the house and senate today by Sena-
tor Sutherland and Representative
Howell The bills provide for COM
mission of five members to be ap-
pointed by the president and appro-
PIRATES $100,000,000 for road i'm
provement work. The money to be
available in sums of $10,000,0O0
yearly, and is to be expended under
the direction of the commission in
states willing to raise a sum equal
to the amount the commission will
expend. The salary of the commits
sioners is fixed at $500 per year."
Now, it seems to me that when this
subject is treated from national
standpoint, and each state receives
national assistance after it has evil
denced its good faith by contributing
part of the means, we shall make
more rapid progress in the building
of our main highways.
Highway to Yellowstone Park
1t has been a hobby of mine for
some time to see a first class inter-
state highway to the Yellowstone Ma
tional park, its main course being
from Salt Lake City and through
your own city of Pocatello and thence
following the Oregon Short Line rail-
road, and connecting with the gov
,rnment highway through the Ma
tional park. Leading into this main
highway roads from Cheyenne, Car
son City and Boise would no doubt
follow over the most feasible routes.
If such bill as the one referred to
above became law the government
would then be in position to assist
each state in the construction of such
a highway and it would very properly
be the province of the government to
do so. A considerable distance of this
road before reaching the National
park passes through the government
forest reserves and it would be a
benefit and safeguard to the forest
because of the rapid locomotion thus
NJ.