Evening journal., 1890-03-11
OF COUNTRY ROADS.
Places for provement--Action OF I


of the country roads of America il now
being discussed by legislators, by men Of
science, by economists and others having
practical interest in public means for
transportation. Some states have re.
Gently taken action in this matter, and
others are considering measures with a
view to securing the quickest and best
results. Pennsylvania has state com
mission at work, inquiring about the
needs of the state and the best methods
of reform. New Jersey adopted new
road law last year. providing for a uni
formity in highway building under
state engineer
In Tennessee the Vanderbilt university
instructs free Of charge one person from
each county to supervise roads. During
the present sessions of the legislatures
bills will be presented in New York,
Maryland Ohio, Virginia and Rhode
Island, and it is probable that some ac
ton win be taken in New Jersey and
Massachusetts,. A general awaking OF
interest throughout the country has been
brought about largely by the efforts 81
the League Of American Wheemen,
national association Of cyclists. Last
year the league issued little work enti.
tied "lmprovemento Of Highways, which
discusses practical methods Of making
and repairing roads and gives the draft
| of bill which, with some notifications.
may be the basis for new legislation in
| the several states of the Union. The rec
concentrations for new roads treat prin
cipally of some form OF macadam. either
| for the whole road or for such portions
of it as lie in places that cannot be thor
oughly drained
The bill which the wheelmen suggest
IN order to secure uniformity in the vari-
Gus states is substantially this;
Section ] constitutes a highway dis
trict ia each township not under munici.
pal control Section 3 provides for an
oyerseer for each highway district Sec
tions 3, and define the duties Of the
overseer. who shall locate and open all
public roads, and improve and repair
the same. Sections 8 and 2 relate to
sign boards Sections s and o relate to
the award Of contracts Section Is pro.
vides for tax levy, and section 16 re-
lates to the method of apportioning and
levying the same Sections 10, 20 and
q place all toll roads and bridges under
the care of the district overseers, with
power to compel the owners 70 repair
them and also TO close them whenever
their condition is not according to the
charter or laws governing them.
IN tile states where the agitation has
taken hold various plans are under con
sideration. Last yeara bill was before the
Pennsylvania legislature providing for
a uniform road tax Of seven and one-half
mills, to be raised in each county and ex-
pended under county engineer. Not
less than 40 per cent. Of this tax must
be expended in macadamizing or other
other permanent improvement. Accord
ing to this bin each county win be sub
divided into districts under charge Of a
supervisor
In Rhode Island the League Of Wheel
men have prepared bill, and Governor
Ladd, in bis last message, recommended
a uniform road law. which ''should seek
not only to direct and control the proper
construction and keeping of roads in the
state, but in a measure should also con
troll the laying out Of roads, with view
TO prevent their unnecessary and costly
multiplication, and seek to secure sys-
tematic network Of highways for inter.
town communication
The citizens Of Rhode Island have
formed a State Roads Improvement as
sociation, with the object of increasing
public knowledge and interest concern.
ing good roads, and to procure needed
changes in legislation. This association
petitioned the legislature to enact ap-
propriate laws at the session for 1890.
Governor Hill in his last message re-
ferred to one Of the plans under discus
sion in New York as follows:
It has been suggested that the state should pro
ceed 70 construct through every county two high,
ways, running IN different directions and inter.
| sectng each other in about the center Of tho
county-such roads to form part OF q complete
general system, those IN each county 10 connect
with those Of adjoining counties, and TO be known
everywhere as state roads, constructed, cared for
and maintained at the expense OF The state at
| large, under the direction and supervision Of the
state engineer aud surveyor or other competent
authority to be designated This system when
once completed, would enable a person 70 start
/ FROM New York city, Albany or any other point
on foot or IN carriage, and visit every county IN
the state without once leaving the state roads
thus insrring comfort, convenience, pleasure and
1 speed. These roads should be macadarnized or
constructed Of crushed stone or other suitable
material. with proper culyerts good bridges, ade.
quate drainage, watering troughs and sign boards,
50 as 10 compare favorably with the best country
| roads IN other countries; and existing highways
could be utilized for this purpose so far as feasible
These state roads would not only prove Of great
convenience and vast advantage to the whole
community, but they would serve as aobiect les.
sons 70 the local authorities the effect Of which
would necessarily tend 10 improve the ordinary
town highways and prove OF inestimable benefit
II Is not believed that the people Of the cities Of
the state would object TO this Improvement, but
| that, on the contrary, they would hail il with
pleasure as during the summer months they flock
| e the country IN large numbers and are deeply
interested in all that concerns the material prog.
ress' development and prosperity Of the rural
districts
In the early history Of the state Il was the Gus.
llm 20 construct important public highways at
general expense. The session laws from 1912 to
1881 contain many acts making liberal appropria.
tons for such purposes; but after the building or
our canals and railroads the practice was dscon
tinued
Our free canals are maintained al an expense
OF over a million dollars annually. and the state
at various periods IN rs history has financially
aided the constructions Of certain railroads. some
interior counties have been heard to complain
possibly not without some reason. that those fIp
provements have not materially benefited their
particular localities but the plan here outlined
would TO some extent tighten the burdens 10
which they are now subjected or at least tend 70