Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1912-05-23
Timely Article Of Better Roads by y.
I. Jarvis, q Recent Visitor
TO Camas Prairie
He FAv0RS FEDERAL AID
Gives Some Suggestions for Improve
ment. Good Roads of More Value
Than Panama Canal.
Mr.. Editors:

Mr.. Editor:
Perhaps / may be gratified in pre-
senting this article where inform your
readers that | am one of the first men
in this county to publicly proclaim from
the platform before hundreds Of Farm
ers' Institutes in the east, and through
the columns of my paper which ran
six years in southwestern Michigan.
AS man of extensive travel, study
observation and experience 1 feel both
able, and justified in presenting the fol-
lowing facts. i have travelled many
miles over roads which insult a horse.
say nothing of man, and no need or
excuse exist for such in this age of
mechanical, and engineering skill.
America has the labor, the materials,
and the means to revolutionize our
highways and take our stand in good
roads, as in most all other lines of USE
ful agencies, at the head Of all ma
tions.
For years past have been an ardent,
and restless advocate of Good Roads,
and | am still as active in that inter-
est, and ready to aid by voice and pen
the movement.
Since / have been west / realize more
fully the necessity of such improve
ments and / often wonder why people
who pay an indirect tax, to sustain the
federal government an average Of one
dollar per head, for every man, woman
and child in this county each month, or
10000 per year for each family which
averages five. Yes, often wonder why
people pay this enormous amount so
freely, and never ask what is done
with it. Why not have a system Of
Federal Road Engineers, constantly at
work in systematic manner over each
state, and this work done in scientific
way, and kept up until every mile Of
road in this land is first class.
| No arguments can be made against
such, and all are in its favor. The ben
efits accruing from good roads to all
classes are beyond contemplation, for
such will add value to every acre Of
land in the county, and will lift so
ciety to a higher level of cosmopolitan
life, increase trade, travel, and unite
communities more closely. In case
of foreign invasion at any time it
would assist in prompt mobilization of
an army. Pedestrian, equestrian and
auto travellers would receive benefits.
Such roads would reduce the cost Of liv-
ing hundreds of millions of dollars each
year. / ask my fellow citizens if they
: ever considered that we have squan-
dered nearly one billion dollars on the
Philippine project, which, when used to
promote good roads, would have made
) nearly 100000 miles Of roads as good AZ
any in Europe. The countries of the
old world are gridironed with fine roads
and the cost per ton per mile haul for
all classes of freight and farm produce
there, costs on the average eight cents
per mile, while in this country the same
: cost us on the average 25 cents. This
must be paid by the consumers and en-
!. ters the cost of living.
= In the United States it requires
100000 trips of one ton each load
to haul the farm produce from fields
where such grows to the nearest point
9 of shipment by rail or water.
The average distance for each load il
:. nine miles, and average time required
for man, team, horses and wagon is one
day, and it is set as low cost at 2:
!. cents per mile, which equals pay PEI
. trip of $2.25.
!. This constitutes sum total of abou
;. $500, 900 as cost for this part of tn
!. work in our system Of distribution.
And the total miles travelled 10 1855,
100000 miles over roads which for near
ly six monhs of each year are almos
"a impossible. In Europe q team can will
nf ease haul three times the load whicl
a. is common in our country.
Al Thus there is ample room for grea
m economy and Improvement. Why shoul'
n. I've not turn to the solution Of this prob
=. lem in practical way, and dsman'
m some fair part Of our federal meney =
he be appropriated for good roads.
A. Today We hear much about this suh
- ject. But most Of al sugeestiose -
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