Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1911-06-29
TALKING GOOD ROADS WHILE
OTHERS BUILD THEM.
Idaho Statesnan.)

1t may be encouraging to the
members of the convention in SEES
sion at Pocatello, who are endeavor-
ing to get the people of Idaho to not
only talk good roads, but to build
them, to know that during the road
building season of 1911 there is be-
ing expended one million dollars Il
day for good roads over the country.
The example set elsewhere, supple
mented by the devotion to the cause
by the members of the Pocatello
convention and many others, should
have its effect in Idaho. This state
could get out of the hot air road
stratum and go to building. 1t is
encouraging to know that in several
districts steps have already been
taken for permanent roads, built
under systematic and intelligent
direction. Other sections will un-
doubtedly act similarly, and in time
there will be very few localities in
this state included in the back-num-
Der category.
The public perhaps has no con-
ception of the immensely of good
roads building operations over the
country. The expenditures for roads
for the 1911 season will aggregate
about $40, 600, 900, as against $50,
900, 900 in 1904. Excluding Sun
days and legal holidays the 1911
expenditures represent million
dollars a day for the season. Cali
fornia has issued s1S,0OO,00O in
bonds with which to build system
of state highways. Connecticut is
expanding s2,250,O 900 this season,
Maryland over 100000, Massa-
chusetts 81 5000 and New York
S12, 100000, of which $1,000, 900
is for state-aid roads and trunk lines,
the balance being raised by taxation
for local road building. In Ohio
80 counties have voted 81, 800, 900
bonds for good roads construction
this year and will spend in addition
half million from state revenues.
Pennsylvania will spend 81 ,0O0,00O
and a $50, 0OO,0 bond issue is be-
ing considered. Wisconsin, Tenn
essee, Virginia, Texas, North Caro-
lima and other states are expanding
from quarter of a million to two
and half million each on good
roads this year.
These appropriations reveal the
I progress of the good roads move
ment in the nation. Why are these
enormous sums being put into good
roads? Because it pays. That
the only answer. The farmers es-
pecially understand the profit t.
them of good roads, and those who
live in the cities participate in it tC
a large extent.
Mud and dust and rust do no
make smooth going for prosperity
car.
III The good roads propaganda is
| comparatively new in Idaho. There
are few who are opposed to gOoC
| roads in the abstract, but there arr
| many who bubble over details anC
| whose captious objections to ever.
| plan proposed constitute stumbling
| blocks to progress. 1t would no
| be fair to call them enemies of gooc
| roads, but they may he the cause o
| delaying the greatest blessing Idah
can have to-day.
| There possibly will never be an
| plan for good roads building tina
will not be open to some objection
but it is necessary to have some pla
i and when any citizen, and especial
any one identified prominently wit
good roads movements, essays tn
role of faultfinder over trivialitie
the public may question his SINGER
ity. The thing to do is to unite o
the hest possible plan and bull
good roads; to get out of the cloud
and out of the mud and dust at tn
same time by doing something be
side chatter and adopt rosy resolr
tions.
Idaho development for many veal
has been retarded by its poor road:
constructed and maintained unde
the county commissioner system
enmeshed as it is in politics. TIL
= state will never enjoy the benefit
=, of good roads until this system sha
have been abandoned and the wor
taken up in business-like manner
with political machinery eliminated