The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-01-09
IHE sETTeRlNG OF ROADS.


sambly.
THE BETTERlNG or ROADS.
Tho rxpericnce of the state of New York
with the Highways.
I'm his message to the New York Assem-
hlv. Governor Hill reviews the subject OF
the improvement of highways in the state.
As Virginia, in common with many other
STATES is particularly interested IN the
subject Of good roads, that part OF the mes
SAGE is published az follows
"fhc subject of the improvement of cOun-
iv roads j. one which is attracting VIDE
.nread attention. The fact exists that our
highways in the rural districts are as a
general rule in an unsatisfactory condition,
many of them being almost impossible
without great discomfort during large por-
tiOns of the year, lille few are kept in
proper state OF repair. They are far ME
ri0r 90 those throughout England and sew
oral other countries i'm Europe, while the
public roads i'm the New England states are
cOnspicuOusly better than ours
"Ihis situation may have arisen because
IF our vast cXpanse of territory, the effort
/ 90 maintain too many highways, the large
expense involved in their proper care mat
/ lention and indifference on the part Of the
people or possibly from defective system.
/ Of highway laws. Whatever may be the
real cause, 10 cannot be denied that our
/ highways are deteriOrating, and that some
adequate remedy should De devised. IL is
! apparent that they are not constructed
| with any special skill, little or no engineer
/ ing talent being employed, and the matter
If cuyeris and drainage being largely
overlooked.
WORKING OUT THE ROAD TAX.
at is asserted by some that the present
system of permitting each ireeholder 90
~w0rk outs bis road taxes operates badly,
aud being a relic Of old times. might be
essentially mOdihed with beneficial results.
/ There seems TO be lack of official respon-
sibillty and competent supervision. Neither
commissioners of highways nor pathmasters
| are always selected for their especial fit
ness for the discharge of the important
duties involved i'm the proper construction
| 0f suitable highways or in their care and
maintenance. I'm some Of the Western
States these duties dev0lye upon county
civil engineer, who has entire charge, and
whose function sare performed for the bene-
/ DO of the whole county, freed from local
influences and interests"
THE TOWN AND COUNTRY.
"When highways are once properly built.
! the ineXponsiycness Of their proper maintc-
nance is not generally understood; but the
| principal difficulty in the past has arisen
from their originally defective construction.
Country highways running through a town
should not be regarded as principally for
/ the benefit Of that town. That may be their
primary object. but they serve broader
and more comprehensive purpose m Afford
ing means of communication for all the pco-
pie. and should be viewed as part Of a
great general system. The burdens inn
posed upon the taxpayers i'm the country are
ID Il 81. fH
can not be reasonably expected that they
will manifest an unusual interest or large
degree Of pride in the maintenance Of SUI
pcrb and expensive highways 10 an extent
beyond the actual needs OF the immediate
neighborho0d"
NOT LOCAL QUESTION.
"But the required improvement of our
highways should not be considered in any
narrow or selfish spirit, nor should local
interests alone bee consulted. The Interests
OF the whole state are involved. This as
pect of thc question naturally presents the
inquiry whether the State itself should not
take the lead in the matter Of so pressing
aud desirable an Improvement
d" 1t has been suggested that the state
should proceed TO construct through every
county two highways running in different
directions and intersecting each other In
about the centre of the cOunty-such roads
90 form part of complete general
system. those in each county 20 connect
with those of adjoining counties, and 10 be
known everywhere as STATE roads, con- |
structed, cared for and maintained at the eN-
pense of the State at large, under the direc- |
ton and supervision OF the state engineer /
and surveyor OF other competent authority /
ID be designated. This system, when once /
completed. would enable a person 10 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 insuring comfort, con-
Nenicnce. pleasure and speed. These roads /
should Dee macadamized or constructed of
crushed stones or other suitable material.
with proper cuNCrts, good bridges, AIDE
quate drainage, watering-trOughs and sign
boards. SO as u compare faVOrably with the
best country roads in other countries; and
existing highways could be utilized for this
purpose SO far as feasible.N
..Ihcse State roads would not only prove
Of great convenience and vast advantage to
The whole community. but they would serve
AS object lessons 10 the local authorities,
the elect Of which would necessarily tend %
improve the ordinary town highways and
prove OF incstimabe benefit
ut is not believed that the people OF the
cities Of the State would object To this i'm
bat that, on the contrary, they
would hail IL with pleasure, as during the
months they Iock 10 the country in
large numbers, and are deeply interested in
AN that concerns the material progress, de
golopment and IWperity of the rural dis
lricts.r
'lu the early history Of the State it was
tie custom To construct important public
at general expense. The session
laws from 1872 10 1881 contain many acts
making liberal appropriations for such pur-
poses. but amer the building OF our canals
and railroads the practice was discontin-
iCd"
"Our free canals are maintained at an eN-
lense of over amilion dollars annually, and
Lo State al various periods in its history
ias financially aided the construction OF
certain railroads some interior counties
ave been heard 10 complain, possibly NOT
without some reason, that those improve
ncnts have not materially benefited their
PARTICULAR localities. but the plan here out
ined would tO some extent Tighten the bur
~ n. .a..I ]