Luxemburger gazette. [volume] (Dubuque, Iowa) 1871-1918, 1917-10-25

The following pastoral letter has
been issued by Bishop Brossart Of
Covington, under date Of September
20, 1917:
The ever-vigilant governor Of our
dear old state, realizing that 1t Is
backward in road building, Is making
a strong and noble effort to remedy
this evil.
For the purpose he has designated a
Sunday, on which the ministers Of re-
ligion should give a helping hand to the
officers Of the state by speaking encour-
aglngly to their fiocks upon the anne
Iteration Of this sad condition. Modern
requirements In building roads make
them more costly than in previous
years: and whatever is being done in
this line should be done according TO
standards approved by costly expert
ence, lest the taxpayers money be
wasted In the accomplishment Of moth
ing.
In the line Of building roads, as well
as In many other things concerning
science and art and works of endur-
ance, we must go back to ancient days,
and learn to do many things profitable
and lasting.
Romans Point the Way.
The old Appian Way, commenced by
Appius Claudius Caesar in 312 b. c.,
and carried by him from Porta Capena
In Rome to Capua, being extended ultt.
mately to Brindisi, a total length of
about $50 miles, was completed 80
years before the birth of our Savior.
It's foundation consisted of carefully
cemented strata, and was topped with
neatly jointed blocks of stone. Its
breadth was from Ia to Is feet. ex
| Guiding the footpaths, which, in olden
times seemed to have been quite n
desideratum by the many pedestrians.
From P~rocopinus, al ancient writer,
we learn that the road was In perfect
state in his days GA. ID. 50O-565).
We, of modern days, who boast so
much Of the wonderful progress of our
age, are beginning to go back to these
| olden days, when rulers and people
spared no expense in employing the
best Of engineering In building roads
that would advance the interest OF the
people. and, In time Of war, be a de-
Tense to home and country.
Patriotic Work.
Let us hope that our road-builders
Of today may be actuated by the same
| lofty and patriotic motives, and inspire
and encourage our people to respond
to every effort made by men, who
ought to be versed in the art Of road.
building and who, through a careful
administration Of the county funds,
have a claim to the prompt co-opera.
ton Of every good citizen and taxpayer
Of the state. Unfortunately too much
money has been wasted by officials jg'
norant Of the work they are too anx'
ious to undertake. Only men tina!
are capable and honest should aspire
to become County or State Commits
sioners and engage In this work, Sc
necessary for the development Of our
beloved Commonwealth.
1t may not be advisable TO use the
sacred pulpit for the inculcation of this
civic duty, but / desire hat every pas
tor Of the Diocese Of Covington speak
to his people through the societies and
sodalities Of his parish. and that the
officers Of the Diocesan Federation
take UP this matter very conscien
tiously. and encourage our people tC
aid the State and County officials, who
are anxious to improve our roads, sc
sadly in need Of Improvement for the
progress and upbuilding of u dear
' AlI cfotA