The Campaign for Better Roads in King County
As railroads connect cities, local leaders argue that the 'wretched' state of public wagon roads is strangling the rural economy and stifling growth.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The county convention on Friday last passed the following resolution: Resolved, That we are in favor of the construction and general improvement of county roads within King county, and that we demand of our county commissioners immediate action looking to that end. The want of better public highways is now generally agitated. A good road means that the farmer can reach the railroad station in one-third of the time that he must spend over a poor road; it means that he can transport two tons of farm products with two horses more cheaply than one ton with four horses. Bad roads force people to live in cities; good roads tempt them out into the country.
“Bad roads force people to live in cities; good roads tempt them out into the country.”
This 1892 debate over infrastructure and economic connectivity parallels current Seattle-area struggles with transportation funding and the 'last mile' problem of linking rural residents to urban hubs.
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