The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1913-03-28
THE OBSERVATORY

WleQ one RECALLS the COQQlClOu U
the road leading westerly from thu
city to Dixie and Roswell, as i
was nine and ten years ago, anC
compares it with its present con
dition, he sees great contrast
For two or three years that road
was a series of ruts, from one tc
two feet deep through the winter
and far from decent through the
summer. But some of the roads
are now excellent. Formerly the
straight piece of road from Fruit
dale Farm, the old Hartley place.
to iddleton, was something frightful
in the winter and spring. II the
country people have had reason to
complain of the autos because they
scare their horses, and because
many of their drivers have been
reckless, they now have reason to
be thankful for their advent, be-
cause they have brought with them
the demand for better roads, which
are being made, and the horse driv-
ing part of the population is get
ting the full benefit of the i'm
prOvement.
wonder how many of us have
ever thought that the condition OF
country's roads is quite good in
dex of it's civilization; vivid
glimpse of the time of desolation in
the history of the ancient people
is given in the Holy Book where it
is recorded that "In the days OF
Shamgar the son of Anath, in the
days of Jael, the highways were
unoccupied; and travellers walked
thrOnOh hVwovc. tho rnloro ooocn1
in Israel; they ceased" It was a
time of political anarchy. and in
stead of travel in peace over good
place to place skunk through unfre-
quented paths. In the early history
of our country there was similar
less frequented trail thar he might
evade the willy red man. And it
is interesting to note in the early
records Of the Atlantic settlements
the first mention of wheeled vehicles
which implies a road; and with bet
ter roads more wheeled vehicles
and better ones; the first for per-
sonal travel were two-wheeled
chaises, with high wheels, and hung
on leather thorough-braces, like the
Concord coach, which is simply
survival of those chaises, and what
ever we may think of them COM
pared with our elegant buggies, they
were wonderfully comfortable.
All those who have attentively
read Roman history knows that
one can clearly trace the advance of
her boundaries and civilization by
he building of her great high
ways; wherever her arms conquered
he built roads, that communication
night be unhindered and rapid;
md many of those roads are still in
Use, the foundations unimpaired.
md little yearly labor keeping
hem in good condition. The de-
Zine Of the Roman empire was ac-
by a decay of those
great arteries Of circulation for the
and people.
AS soon as the federal govern.
ment was established in this coun-
try there was movement for ma
tional roads to open easy oommuni-
cation between all parts of the
country, the fathers OF the Repub.
lie saw that the great Northwest
Territory. west Of the Alleghenies,
was to become a part and parcel
OF the nation, and there must be
built good and open roads, and the
National Highway was built. Then
came the era of the canals, In the
20 and 80 of the last century the
subject Of internal improvements
was much considered by congress.
and the great state of New York
ed the way with the Erie canal,
which has been a large factor in
he development of our country, the
people seeing that governmentally
assisted lines OF communication could
70 for territorial development. And
bout that time there was an era
4 turnpike road building, which
Dads were chartered by the states,
nd exercise dthe right of eminent
oman, as railroads later, going
traight from point to point, up
Ill and down, across river, pond or
og, cutting through farms and
ometimes requiring the removal
I buildings. Most of these roads
YER ewell built, and many Of their
ridges over rivers and arms of the
ca were a public benefit long at
er the roads were given over by
aeir owners to county and state
tate control. The coming OF rail-
Dads on the heels of the turn
likes ruined their value as invest
nents, the stockholders losing all
hey had paid for their stock, ex-
ept the toll bridges, which con-
inued to be paying investment for
many years. For long time there
vas but one free bridge leading
ut OF Boston, and it was not until
1868 that the Massachusetts, leg
stature bought out all the pri-
'ately owned bridges in that state
md made them free. l heard a
nan say few days ago that In his
ourtship days he had to pay a
wo cents toll every time he crossed
me OF those bridges to see the
ady OF his choice. And 1t is with
n the last decade that the last
ridges across the Connecticut river
'etween New Hampshire and YER
mont have been made free. And
ust there Is an example of how
'rasping Is an individual or a
state, like chicken comes home
o roost." When the line between
'ew Hampshire and Vermont was
the former state de-
handed that the line should be low
yater mark on the west side, giving
!ew Hampshire jurisdiction Of the
liver and channel. It NAV have
ecured her some benefits, but In
ne NJ, one matter Of bridges they are