Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1913-02-07
FOR GOOD ROADS

The most paramount question be-
fore the state of Nevada today is
the public roads.
For the Counties of the State to
undertake this enterprise Of devel-
opmpnt for their own, and the
States good, is like commencing at
the top of tree to cut it down.
| The State should first build its
own main lines, connecting with
the lines of its sister or adjoining
States. This being done the
Counties throughout the State, will
then know how to go ahead, lay out
their own interior roads, construct
and manta!n them. There :an be
but one head to any public utility
enterprise within the borders of
any State and that is the Executive
Department.
The several counties are heirs of
the State and constitute the State
family of children.
If father of a large family
should lay back and REQUIRE his
children to do all things for tn,
best interests of the family, even
to the experimenting of the house
hold. he would be branded by the
neighbors as worthless father.
What ever shall be done at the
present session of our Legislature
upon the great and important
question of good roads, will only be
the commencement of the work.
Each and every session of our
legislature. for the next twelve TO
twenty years. will have to deal with
and work upon this question.
1t is my opinion that the present
session of our legislature should
bond the State for say twenty or
thirty year bonds, in sum of not
less than two millions Of dollsrs-
three million would be better.
This money to he expended on the
State roads, inrersecting with the
trunk lines of the various adjoining
States roads leading from East to
West and North to South.
The State can borrow money on
its bonds at 30 or percent. The
counties would have to pay 6 per-
cent on their bonds for outside
money.
Let the State borrow all road
money and Ian so much as is nee.
essary upon the bonds of the several
counties for their own road build
ing.
The sixty cents on the dollar that
all counties now pay to the State
for being members of it-consider-
ing the increase Of taxable property
and the increased valuation fixed
by the last session of the State
Board Of Assessors, is going to en-
rich the State Treasury materially
over any period heretofore. No
property owner other than possibly
a railroad company objects to pay
ing taxes for the construction and
maintenance of public roads.
There is no question of the per-
manency of the States resources
and its capability of borrowing
money and at the lowest possible
rate of interest.
The last Post OFF appropriation
bill of Congress carried with il
five hundred dollar item for expert.
mental work in road building. If
our two able United States Sepa-
tors and Congressman till put their
shoulders to the wheel, | know of
no reason why the State of Nevada
should not win twenty or twenty
five thousand dollars of Il at appro-
priation.
Further-if our representative
in Congress would go to that mat
ter in dead earnest in all probability
a reasonable amount Of government
land within the borders of our
State wou Id be set aside to the
State for the sole purpose Of the
development of the States public
roads or highways, IS has already
been done for the benefit of our
public school system, and which
has wrought so much govd to our
state.
Respectfully submitted,