The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1916-04-13
COUNTY ROAD MAN
AND A BIG TRACTOR
County Board Selects n. w.
Woodruff as Road
Commissioner

The Commissioners have selected
Harlan Woodruff as road commits
sioner, or whatever title the county
road supervisor moY be designated
by. The selection is a first class
one. He has made a study Of road
improvement for several years.
The Commissioners have ordered a
large engine for road building, and
we may expect some practical re.
suits, if every man keeps IN mind
the essential facts that roads must
be built one at a time. and that
Main roads should come first, and
go somewhere.
The commissioners have also Sc.
lected Jack Woodward to have
charge Of the county bridge work.
He is an experienced concrete and
cement worker, and has the reputa,
ton of doing first class work.
In many localities the interest IN
good roads is taking such a practical
turn that men are willing to spend
money to secure them. Why this
great enterprise, which Is of more
direct benefit to more people than
almost any other single public mat.
ter. has been 50 long neglected Is
the marvel of the age. There is
scarcely an individual IN any com,
munity who would not be benefited
sooner or later by improved roads.
This is evident to any one-in fact
admitted by all classes of citizens,
And vet there is a peculiar feature
of human nature which constantly
interferes with putting this univer,
sal sentiment into practical use.
Ask n man in township. in county,
or in state if he is willing that his
community should go ahead anC
build good roads. Nine out of ter
will say: Sure thing, we ought tc
do it, we need it."
But pursue the question a little
farther. and YOU will find about
half of them favor 1t conditionally
The condition is that you build my
road first This one element of
selfish desire t. be served first ha
for years prevented the very thini
that all want. 1t would seem tina
this question of improving roads i
as simple as A b c when The demand
is so universal, and when a MAJ
stops to think of the commonsens,
of the proposition.
Every fellows road cannot b,
built first, nor can they all be bull
at the same time. But if no start i
made, South Dakota will go alon,
another third of a century withou
proper road improvement.
There is only one common sens,
way to build roads. and that is t.
build one at a time. and build j
right. Keep this up a few years
and of course all roads will be built
Instead Of building a mile here,
half mile there, and another stril
over yonIer, the township, tn,
county. the state. should build on,
road at a time straight throug!
their territory, not as a strip. but t.
go somewhere. to join onto som,
other road leading to some definit,
point or market.
The first thing to build is bas'
r o ad S, principal thorough-fares
When these roads are completed
clear through to the final OBJECTIVE
point take up another one. but no
before.
Some townships are beginning t
realize this and are raising various
sums for this purpose. There are
townships IN this county which hav,
raised from $1,000 to $500 for roac
work. One township IN Bead,
county has voted a bond of $4,000 tt
build roads. A number Of state,
have already passed laws appropri
ating millions of dollars to builC
good roads. And last. but not least
it is the hope of many American
that the national government viii
have an inspiration some time soor
to turn some of the pork" funds Il
building good roads.