Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1912-05-23
FOR BETTER ROADS


Continued from Page u
impractical. The idea of a tax upon
the people along such roads is not pos
sible, because now from all sources, fed
eral, state, county and locality in
township or village such farmers and
people are now taxed to the limit of
endurance.
And no more money should be called
for, and all present botch work upon
roads be done away with. Men in the
past have tried to improve roads, who
know no more of such work than a dog
knows of astronmy.
Such boy work should stop and a
well defined system of work instituted
and continually pushed. Federal aid
should root the bill, and we can stop
building great gun boats which cost
millions, out of which rich contractors
thrive, and the real life of all of those
monsters is only about l6 years when
it is relegated to a target, or the scrap
lpile. The millions squandered in many
ways under present exploitation in dis
tant seas should stop and use same to
improve our home country. Give Amer
leans work at wage of minimum
amount so all men can find such work
when all other fails
Great engineers have said ship ca
nal across the southern part of Mich.
gan from Lake Michigan to Lake Erie,
$50 miles, would save in so years in
cost, and time lost from great trips
around Maekinac straits, and in at least
six weeks more of practical navigation,
enough to pay for building such canal,
Such would be more benefit to the peo-
pie than the Panama canal, which it is
believed by many expert men to be
a waste of money on account of its be-
ing in the quake section, where it is in
constant danger Of sudden destruction,
and when done, if success, will be
governed by the great continental rail
roads, through their attorneys in the
United States Senate, SO long as the
American people retain a system Of
private ownership. We never can real
ize the benefit from this canal in full
until all railroads belong to Uncle Sam
Then the advantages can fully accrue
to those who foot the bill-the people
But to return to good roads. Let us
IL H. ~ lck4 - \.
nation on this work. In the United
States we have about 10000 men in
various prisons, 100000 of which are
not the most desperate of men, and this
labor is practical and can be wisely
used upon road work, and it will bt
better for the convict, have greater
reformatory effect upon them than the
present contract system which enriche'
a few men, and reduces our prisons tx
simple factories, commercialized int
dividends for great contractors in few
lines of industry. And all the product
is cast upon full market in competi
ton with free law-abiding citizens.
The records of our prisons show tn,
present methods are failures. as one
fourth of all inmates are repeaters
men in more than once.
The system is demoralizing; mel
soon learn they are simply creating
wealth for a few, thus their families
get no benefit from their toll and a
the end Of terms are cast adrift will
neither cash or trade, to be branded a
felons, and thus discouraged. Sucl
men are apt, las records show, to become
. criminals and 60 back again. If W,
institute federal aid financially, lie
! each state utilize it's convicts upon it
highways, every mile of roads in Amer
lea in 25 years can be made perfect, an,
everyone benefited, from the rich auto
mobile owner, to the poorest wandering
tramp. Its disgrace to travel an
observe the roads, mud hub deep, waite
and rocks, ruts, stumps and hills all to
frequent. Why not get together an
act and stop talking, but do the worl
All that we need do is to call publ
} sttention to this mosrimportant work.
: could write or talk for weeks upo
, this theme but have just partly hinte
! It few Of the real leading features.
, challenge all opponents to my plan.
: have had practical experience; I hav
, personally visited over nifty stat
, prisons; have been q student Of per
ology, and the cause crime, and tn
, treatment Of such men, and I knov
] whereof speak. Without asking any
, one ~ to my ideas, hold credential
to prove have for thirty years bee
, promoting these plans, and in conclusion
. will say I still urge my ideas. 1. n
? willing to lecture upon Same and thu
: more clearly set these ideas before m
a fo1Inw cnuufrvman