The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-09-04

reason for the existence of local feed
ers, except the accommodation of the
people who live along them and as
community roads.
"In railroad construction all the
branch lines were built after the trunk
lines were established. 1t must be
the same with wagon roads. While
discrimination as between districts IS
neither wise nor fair, nevertheless if
any should be favored 1t is our farming
and rural districts. They need roads
moro than urban centers: and, what IS
more, they need help to build them
They cannot Of themselves furnish the
needed funds. How can they get the
roads they must have? This question
was answered by the present general
| assembly of Ohio in the enactment Of
the half mill levy, which Is being SO
well expended under the supervision of
our state highway department. To
change our present plan to annually
expend the three million dollars which
is derived from the half mill road levy,
by following the suggestion of the Re.
publican platform to abolish the state
highway department would be to di.
vert much of the three million dollars
into corruption, graft and politics, and
not to put it into roads.
For the national government to
construct system of national higl.
ways, which, of course, will be some of
the heavy traffic, main trunk lines, will
be to relieve the states of their con-
struction and maintenance. Thus re-
lieved, the states can, without in
crease of present appropriations, build
more miles than now OF the state main
market roads and inter-county high
ways. To continue our present state
| highway department and to construct,
under supervision of that department,
heavy traffic roads, such as our main
market and inter-county highways,
through the several counties, will re-
lieve the counties of one-half the cost
Of their construction and the total cost
of their future maintenance. Thus re-
| lieved, the counties can, without in
crease of present appropriations, build
more miles of county roads and there
by still further reach out into the more
remote farming districts. To construct
such a system of county roads, which
will be heavy traffic roads through
the townships of the county, will re-
lieve the townships of a heavy por-
tion of the cost of construction and
the cost of maintenance, and therefore,
thus relieved, the townships can, with
| out increase of present appropriations,
| build more miles than now of their
| lighter traffic roads and thereby each
! all of the farming districts lying far.
therest out from their towns and rail
way stations. BY this fourfold sys-
| TEN of roads, there will be an impetus,
as never thought of, given to road
building throughout Ohio and the en-.
tire nation. Authority and RESPONSE
bility will be divided fixed without
conflict arising, and the people will
know to whom to give the praise for
improved roads and upon whom to
place the blame and responsibility for
bad roads. Uniformity and efficiency
will be established. Standards of con
struction and maintenance will be
raised. Every locality of the state will
be given Good Roads Everywhere
by a well-balanced, connected system
Of main market roads, inter-county
highways, county and township roads
reaching out to the most remote parts
of the state. To abolish or interfere
with the present laws governing the
operation of our state highway depart,
ment viii be to abandon these splen-
did plans and to remain in the mud. To
sustain them will be to give to Ohio a
splendid system of Good Roads E.y
erywhere" and with the utmost econo
my The money will get into roads
where 1t belongs. and the cost will be
equitably distributed upon those com
munities best able to bear the bur
den. In other words, the farmer will
get what he needs and what he wants
IA good road to the nearest market
town and railway station. The city
dweller will get what he needs and
must have-a system of roads that
will permit him to go from any point
in the state to any other point in the
state. We cannot hope for this from
the reactionary position of the plat
form of the Republican party. and al
voters of Ohio who permit themselve.
to he deceived by any plan to upse
our efficient state highway department
will contribute TO the adjustment o
state construction and maintenance o
main market roads, and states aid Il
the counties In the construction Of In
ter-county highways 1t will simply
mean to walt in the mud for roads 81
vital to the well being of the peopl,
a.