The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1916-08-10
THE PRINCETON UNION: THURSDAY, AUGUST 10, 1916.
THE GREATEST. GOOD FOR THE
g. GREATEST NUMBER.

THE GREATEST GOOD. FOR THE
| GREATEST NUMBER.
DR.. j.. D. Parks, president of the
Duluth Automobile club, enthusiastic.
ally advocates the building of con.
crete road from the Twin Cities te
Duluth, and he is reported in the News
Tribune as saying of the sentiment
among automobilists in St. Paul and
Minneapolis: ..
"They're simply wild over the idea
down there. They want such a roac
even more than we do up here-anc
that's going some. They are all united
about it, too, and declare that the con.
| struction Of the Duluth-Twin Cities
road must be the first piece of work
taken up in this state under the new
Federal law, and with it will be linked
| the extension of that road to the iror
ranges: -,
est. Louis county's big contributions
to the state tax fund have good dea.
to do with their attitude. They realize
that it's no more than fair that this
county should get early returns. Blu.
even in addition to that there are the
advantages Of having a frst-class
motor route up through the north
country
The time has not yet arrived ir
this state when the building of long
stretches Of concrete roads, mainly fol-
the pleasure of wealthy joy-riders
can be entered upon. The Federal law
does not contemplate the construction
Of such roads. Congress had in mind
the lettering Of rural conditions in
the country generally with the end
in view of making it easier for the
farmer to market his products, and
at the same time to have the improve
ments of as permanent character as
possible.
Representative Saunders Of Vir-
ginia, one of the authors of the Fed
eral law, is reported as saying: eff
the automobile owners think the
Shackleford law is intended solely for
them they are badly fooled. There
will be howl going up to heaven if
the Department of Agriculture picks
for improvement only such roads as
the automobile owners PREFER"
Five miles Of we'll drained, properly
graded, gravel-surfaced road can be
constructed for what it will cost to
build one mile Of concrete road. Il
properly attended to gravel-surfaced
roads can be maintained at small ex-
pense indefinitely. Would not five
miles Of good road be Of more benefit
than one mile Of superfine road?
In the vicinity Of large cities, where
there is heavy and continuous traffic,
and occasionally in a billy country
where washouts are of frequent oc-
currence, concrete or paving material
might be used to good advantage and
would be cheaper in the long rum
There is nothing to the contention
that st. Louis or any other county
pays a large proportion Of taxes, and
for that reason it's rich joy-riders are
cAC1C1cu " SpcC1dI misunderstanding, ANcN
York city and other large centers of
wealth in the east might with equal
advance the same argument.
The presumption is that communities,
like individuals, pay taxes in proper
ton to their ability to pay-pay &C.
cording to their means.
The Union favors the construction
Of a connected and continuous system
Of good roads,-and that is the plan
that is being pursued by the State
Highway commission-roads that will
benefit the farmer as we'll as the auto
who rides for pleasure. But
we do not favor the construction OF
costly roads by the state or nation for
the pleasure Of the few at the expense
of the many. The greatest good to
the greatest number should be the. aim
of our road-builders.