The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1911-04-13
PERTINENT REMARKS
OF GOOD ROADS

The following remarks of r. NJ.
Bremerton, which appeared recently in
an issue Of the Portland Telegram and
later in the Pacific Northwest, are
strong argument for the construction of
a system of good roads; "The primary
thought and active endeavor of every
Oregon citizen is needed on just two
fundamental points of progression.
! % the more rapid settlement and cul-
tivation Of the vast area of food lands !;
| (2) the rapid establishment of good
main roads throughout the food lands,
and connected with the present rail
road system. The first requires a very
large immigration Of people trained in
! agriculture and who know practically
how to get the largest possible amount
of food for man and domestic animal
! from the soil. Oregon is, and ever will
| be, mainly a food and raw product pro-
ducing state. It's present population
is under 700, 600. Portland and the
| inland towns are estimated to contain
at least 80 per cent of the gross. The
remaining SO per cent Of the aPricul-
tural population Gf the lumber and
mining population be includgd), cannot
possibly cultivate properly the 4,000,-
600 acres now estimated to be under
partial cultivation. These form only
l3 per cent of the 30, 000 600 acres of
actual food lands in the state; these
form the very backbone Of the com
monWeaI of the entire commonwealth.
The railroad system is essentially an
arteri2l one 1t can never supplant the
pubiic-rOad system through vast plains
and great valleys. The railroad, with
out the network Of roads, would be
like a river without tributaries along
its course.
The railroad makes for commercial
expansion, concentration and conges-
tiOn; while the road system attracts,
develops and spreads settlements and
dispersion such as the food lands need.
The public road system is a democratic
ideal: it is free communication for
the commonwealth and the Nation.
The railroad can establish new towns
adjacent to its depots and leave old
towns to wilt; while the road helps
all alike, and creates movement upon
wide and hard surface open and free
to all. 1t can be tapped anywhere and
in every direction as need may arise |
it has no limited track for the transit
of every kind and width of vehicle.
The railroad has contributed to the
overgrowth of cities and towns, and |
thereby to the pauperism therein.
Good public roads through the rural |
districts never have and never will |
create congestion and pauperism in the
rural districts that are properly cult
waited by an educated farming com
munity. Nature has made Oregon the |
country tor the farmer and orchardist |
to live and move in by many millions.
Man with a stomach requiring daily |
food is horn to hunger; through this |
natural attribute the soil is cultivated, |
and the common veal of the common |
wealth demands that its hunger be sat
isfied through the industry of the cult
Vat0r. Hence the commonwealth should |
be unit in encouraging that industry
in every possible way, especially in
providing it with good roads.
The establishment of good roads in |
so large state, containing a popu-
lation Of less than 100000, is very
serious financial question under the
present system of road taxation and |
through the "a counties. "