The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1911-05-12
WHAT GOOD ROADS
MEAN TO THE VALLEY
BY CHAs. EDWARDS.

0OOO TOduS are 6SSenCldl 10 every COM
munity in this state and to the farmers
especially, as they can get to market
with their products much cheaper for
the reason they can haul larger loads
with the same power, with safety and a
safety to horses and rigs.
An attempt was made to get bill
through the last legislature to have the
road tax paid in cash and have it spent
under proper supervision in each COM
munity where it was collected, with a
provlso to give the resident farmer an
opportunity to do his own work at S4.OO
per day and the non resident to pay in
cash.
This money was to have been spent in
the district in which it was collected
aud giving the farmer an opportunity to
earn the money so collected, but it did
not pass. The argument advanced was
the city chaps were trying to make the
farmers build. automobile roads and
that they (the farmers) did not go into
the cities to dictate to them how to do
things. Then bill passed to tax all au-
tomoblles in the state. The money so
collected to be used in improving the
roads in the county from which it was
collected, but none of it to be used in
incorporated towns, cities, or in town
ships where six mill tax has not been
levied. The license fee in the original
bill was S., but when the cash system
was not passed the fee was reduced to
S3. The bill was intended to show the
farmers that the automobile owners
were willing to help and to identify the
automobile or motorcycle. The bill was
passed with an emergency clause and is
now in force.
The system of doing road: work has
some defects and should be more care
fully looked after by some municipali-
ties. A road overseer may not be pres.
ent at meeting and is appointed with
or without his consent. Then in some
cases he seems to think that his first du.
ty is for himself. He takes all the non
resident work he can get and then farms
it out, and does the work when and
where he sees fit.
Now the nonresident who has been
induced to come to buy land is paying
road tax and does not receive any atten-
ton. When he comes to look ut hiy
land with view Of sst1ing he goes
away disgusted because the roads are
impossible, and disposes of his land at
. sacrifice.
There should be some attempt made
to have good roads between towns at
least. The automobile has come to stay.
Some people think it is something to be
shot at but it ls one Of the greatest
advertising mediums for farm lands
there is. There is great travel between
Winnipeg and the Twin Cities, but we
get very little of it on account of the
poor roads. When those travellers get
ON 8 poor road they advertise that part
to a disadvantage. Minnesota is bid.
ding for that travel; why can't VET The
roads between Grafton and Draytou and
on to Bowesmont are generally good, but
there is piece between Bowesmont and
Toilette that would stand fixing. When
this road IS put in proper shape then
We could issue map or folder showing
the route and advertise our farms, towns
and cities, from Grand Forks to Pembi-
bina. These could be distributed where
they would do the most good.
Wake up boys and push the interests
of the lower valley. Other parts of the
state are boosting their lands.