The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1916-06-08

Continued from Page y
roads, and that the travelling public
from adjoining towns or passing thru
the county might desire to pass over
those lines where there were poor
roads, or even no roads. And the
remedy for that condition came in
what was known as the county road
For General Highways
We then were confronted with good
roads in one part of the county or
no roads in another part of the same
county, so that those desiring to
pass from one part of the county to
the other Of from one county into or
through different counties were con-
frOnted with no roads or very poor
roads over the line travellers desired
to pass upon. So we have arrived
today at the conclusion that along
certain lines extending from distinct
piOnts there should be maintained
general highways located with refer
ence to serving the greatest number
of people, where the cost of cOnstruc-
ton may be moderate, the cost Of
maintenance moderate and the mini
:
of the highway permissible.
1t has been stated that the great
value to mankind of railroads and
telephones is to lengthen his life by
shortening the time of transporter
ton and communication, and we now
recognize that the automobile has
taken place with the railroad and the
telephone in further extending life.
And the greatest minds that are to-
day busy considering the welfare of
the people realize that in the fullest
development Of the highway will be
found the greatest development of
the country Nothing can so add
to the prosperity, the comfort, the
health, the good morals of our people
as universal automobile highways. 1t
has been aptly put somewhat in this
way, good roads mean good schools,
good churches, good health, good NOR
ais, good homes, good farms and good
people
Four Different Systems
No doubt those who have given
most time to the study of the need
of and the desire for good highways
and the beneficient results from the
use of such, have ALMOST universally
decided that there should be four
systems Of highways, national sys-
TEN, a state system, county system
and town system; each system
working in harmony with the other,
filing in where the others cannot ap-
ply, and all working towards the
grand goal of complete and perfect
highways from the Atlantic to the
Pacific from the Gulf of Mexico to
Hudson Bay.
1t is contended by some that Min
nesota has not taken as much interest
in this great subject and in perform
ing her part in this great work, as
she should Minnesota is blest, as
far as the wealth of the state is con-
cerned, with ample means to carry on,
to the fullest extent, the great enter
prise of building highways through
out every part of the state. Min
nesota, is not confronted, except in
few rare instances, with any serious
obstacles to the construction and
maintenance of good automobile high
ways. But while we thus criticise
the somewhat tardy acton Of our
state, I want to bring to you now
tidings and cheerful news that the
state of Minnesota is awakening to
the benefits to be bestowed upon and
enjoyed by it's people by the con-
struction and maintenance of auto
mobile roads, and that in the near
future a reference to the automobile
roads, in Minnesota will be a refer
ence to every highway in the state
Acting in harmony with this great
effort to bless our people everywhere
with splendid highways, we have es-
tablshed throughout our state many
substantial automobile highways
They have been so far in most in
stances, selected with reference to
connecting important points or
traversing over some scenic route.
In many cases combining scenic beau
ty with practical and business use.
State and National
The establishment of state and ma
tional highways will form a compre-
hensive system as whole. In this
system we will find the scenic routes,
the rural routes, the business routes
and routes combining scenic, rural
and business characteristics. Before
the railroads were introduced, the
horizon and the acquaintance OF the
average citizen was extremely limited,
but with the introduction of the rail-
roads and the telephone we at once
became a part of the vast country,
easily communicating to the farther
est extreme of that country, easily
keeping in touch with the daily Oc-
currences thousands of miles away.
Anything Of Importance, anything
happening, the knowledge Of which
might be beneficial to us, is quickly
known and we take advantage of it
and prosper by reason Of our addi-
tional knowledge This transform
alton resulting from the establish
ment of railroads and telephones will
be nothing as compared with the eff
feet of the construction and mainten-
ance of a comprehensive system of
automobile highways throughout
every portion of our state under the
four systems of national, state, coun-
ty and town highway systems.
Saving in Time
It may be, I am aware, that as
speak there may pass through your
mind the adea of the cost and expense
of the elaboration of such system,
and it is proper that you should con-
slider that. But while that is in your
minds, let me call your attention to
the saving in time, in expense, in ef-
fort, in anguish of mind that will be
saved to the two million people we
have in our state by the fulfillment
and completion of the great plan OF