The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1913-11-13
l. TO
OF GOOD ROADS
ARTICLE TWO by Il. c. lSSEN-
HUTH, CHAIRMAN OF THE
STATE HIGHWAY COM
MISSION

ny , W. tioi, oO1lhtl WV
fare, transportation facilities, and
enhancement of farm values. A
splendid chapter could be written on
each of these topics. Even the rclig-
ious side can be we'll taken care of
with points proper for Il sermon.
n wore and an act for good roads
is a boost for each of the above sub
jects.
In this article we shall deal with
the financial phase. the last TO be-
admitted by those who object to road
building. When all other arguments
are conceded by them. but this one,
they say lit costs too much" This is
the false position behind which these
men fortify themselves at a time
when help is needed. Yet the road
tax is the cheapest of all taxes paid.
Most of us native born We're rear
cd in a generation when we didn't
know what a good road looked like.
We haven't grown up with good i
roads; therefore, we take TO heart
rather slowly the lessons of our wiser '
country men of Europe. where good
roads are in evidence everywhere.
Some of our state are emuating the
% county by investing as high as
nifty midllions in a period of two
years, as state aid. South Dakota has
never given state aid.
Our road laws in South Dakota are
good enough when there is a willing
ness to do things. People who criti-
cize it are usually not in favor of do
ing what the law does authorize. We
are glad OF see that in some places
an awakening public became impat-
lent and did more than the law called
for. adding to it by organizing road
bees, going out with shovels and
teams to work IN the road. If the
cash is not provided for the cause of
good roads, hen let at least a pair
of willing hands join in an effort to
pillow and grade a badly needed stretch
of Dad. Such results are surprising.
A short time ago the Government of
Missouri called IN the citizens of his
state to give two days in work on the
roads. He joined wearing overalls
I himself while working two days with
5 his people. His letter which follows
t explains itself:
City of Jefferson, Sept. /, 1913.
Hon. Il. c. Issenhuth,
Redfield, S. ID.
Dear Sir:
Yours of the 30th ult., at hand and
in reply will say | thank you for
. your kind letter. The work done up
. on the roads during the two Good
II Roads days iii Missouri. equaled ST.
S 500, 600. Over $4,000 WAS contrib
0 uted in cash, 100000 in materials
o and grader work, and more than $50
" 600 men worked each of the two
days.
The state has appropriated $225.-
q 600 to drag the roads from county
+ seat to county seat, and we will place
q 100000 in addition out OF the treas
a ury, in permanent improvement on
- the roads. So that this year aside
70 from the $1,000, 600 placed upon
y the roads during the two Good Roads
Z days, the State will pay out of the
L. treasury, for road purposes, $780,
n 900.
Yours very truly,
T.. w. MAJOR, Governor
This is extraordinary, for Missouri
has heretofore not ranked with tho
more enterprising states. She is II
ely ~"showing" South Dakota by i'll
: vesting i'm labor and cash Il total OF
S2,525, 900.
People are becoming students OF
economy. 1T is not fair to say tina
they do not think of their ~nances
We as a state are learning tina true
economy and the wise expenditure o
ID ii liOiiNs dIo oIc iIlu tHt OdlllC iuIlIS
The word economy is eliminated
g. from discussion when a man insist
as that he is in favor of road improve
j. ment.
Misnamed economy results in pen
as ny wise and pound foolish" position
TO in finance. 1t exists not only as eli
re fecting good roads, but in othe
"A walks of life. The stockholders of
n railroad company a few years ar
NJ opposed their officers who recon-
mended Il half million dollars 70
n ballaSting in improving their tracks
They voted mo" because it woul
IL cut down their dividends. In les
by than six months the rails spread,
IT. passenger train was wrecked, KILN
fifty people. They paid the half mill
5: ion in repairs and damages and sti
had the old tracks. Poor bushes
sis we think. Every citizen is a stocl
holder in our Commonwealth, and a
such has a responsibility resting o
M his shoulders. We can afford to vot
if yes" when the money invested u
:. timately insures comfort, protection
p. and economy for all the people.
2. We give below a complete list {
re counties, showing the amount levie
ed by the county commissioners fo
he county road fund according to law
be expended in 1914. 1t is gratif,
as ing to note the increase, the tot;
being five times greater than TIL
,ct amount expended by counties in 1911,
ng Only seven counties made no lev,
,xt Aurora ..............$ S,167
ia Beadle .......... 1000
err Bennett ........... 5000
Bon Homme ........ 22,129
Brookings .......... 1856
Brown ............ 2S,eS7
II Brule 1924
10 Buffalo ............ 1873
Butte. 1851
= Campbell .......... 1882
% Charles Mix ......... 14,037
roe Clark 5,161
OF Clay +. ........... 1882