The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1928-04-26
INVALID OBJECTIONS

There are certain citizens who
conscientiously oppose the major
ity of projects proposed for the de
velopment of the community. These
citizens mean we'll enough, but in
many respects they advance OBJ
jections to such improvements not
taking the time nor the pains to ar
rive at lc@ical conclusions. In no
instances do invalid objections OBJ
tain more than in the questions of
the opening, grading or paving of
roads and highways.
One objection, and the most
used, is that "we don't need it at
this time" There never has been a
time when civilization did not
need good roads, and there never
will be a time when civilization
will not need good roads tomorrow
more than they need them today.
If good roads do no more than
bring the farmer and merchant to-
getler on basis of mutual help
fulness they are worth while. If
they fail of that larger social con-
tact that YIELDS the communities in
to one great community, county,
state and nation, then there never
has been a need for good roads,
and progress in that direction may
as we'll stop where it is today.
Another objection is that "some-
body might get graft money or
undue preference because of the
project" If this objection is worth
anything or bears one scintilla of
merit, then all public undertakings
may as well cease. Apply the
same reasoning to the expenditures
in your own home and you will ap-
preciate the righteousness of the
theory. Don't buy a radio, a car
pet cleaner, a sewing machine, a
suit of clothes, a lawn mower; for
somebody might "get something
out of it," Indeed, under force of
law, competitive bidding and tech
nical procedure actually protects
the public in road building to a
greater degree than is the individ-
ual protected in his private pur-
chases.
Another very illogical objection
is that the wrong methods may he
used to carry on the proceedings.
If such can be, blame the law
making body that passed the en-
aiding acts-don't slam the project
itself. It is everybody's business,
singly and collectively, to see that
proper laws are enacted to enable
necessary improvements to be
made in a business-like and effic-
lent manner. Laws can fail only
in the proportion that people fail
to take an interest in their proper
enactment.
A still more useless cause of de-
lay is the fact that when a road is
to be paved nearly every layman
becomes an engineer overnight. 1t
is human nature to know more
about road making and road paving
than men who study paving mater
ials and future traffic needs as d
lifetime profession. Because no
construction can be 100 per cent
the watchful layman waits eagerly
for the day to- say 81 told you so. .
1t is unfortunate that such OBJ
jections as these and others are in
jected into proposals for public irn-
provements as necessary as good
roads. Fortunate is it that such
objections can be successfully
met. The Enterprise admonishes
it's readers and friends to weigh
these materials carefully. Remem-
Der this, few public improvements
such as good roads are not wanted
after they have been built and have
become necessary artery of travel
for business and pleasure. No good
bridges are ever torn down except
for the purpose of making better
and bigger bridges.
Let us back up our constituted
authority, and our public officials
who have taken oaths to do their
duty as they understand it-West
Concord Enterprise.