Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-04-09
T0TEMENT FoR BETTER ROADS.


The Governors of Half-a-dozen States
Have Called Legislatures Attention to
the Matter.
The current number Of Garden and
Forest contains the following pertinent
article on the subject Of the general
movement for better roads: The aglta-
ton for improved systems OF road-con-
struction and road-maintenance has pc
come so general throughout the country
that it may be fairly said to have at
tanned the dignity of popular move
ment. The subject is calling forth
articles by writers of authority in our
leading magazines and weekly journals,
in tile bulletins of scientific societies and
state experiment stations, and IN PAM
phlcts issued by various associations or
ganized for economic reform. The
governors of half Il dozen states have
felt mpellcd TO invite attention to the
importance of the subject in their
annual messages; in several OF the states
notably in New Jersey, laws have been
enacted during the winter which over
throw the traditional methods of high
way repairs, and in other legislatures
bills are under consideration, with a
probability that they will become laws,
which provide for state aid and expert
supervision in the maintenance of high
ways, and it is proposed in more than
one instance to use the direct-taX money
which has been returned by the general
government to individual states as a
permanent fund for the improvement of
country roads.
The sentiment in favor of reform in
this matter would be still more urgent
if the mass Of the people had any expcr-
mental knowledge Of the superiority of
good roads over poor ones. When
farmers can be shown by actual prac-
tice that good roads, by enabling them
to double their londs, add TO the value
of everything carried away to sell, save
minutes OF hours every day which
amount to days and weeks in the year,
and bring them closer to markets and
amusemcnts, and schools and churches,
they will urgently demand a reform
which promises to add so much to their
comfort and profit. And they will be
still more eager for this improvement
when they find that it costs 81 to keep
in repair a good maeadam road instead
Of the IS which they haze been payingin
taxes to maintain the same length of dirt
road upon which, even whom in fair
condition, three horses are required to
haul the load which one can draw on
properly mctaled surface.
But one Of the special duties of this
paper is to invite attention to the value
of natural beauty. Every census shows
that the populationof ourcities is grow
ing at more rapid rate than that Of the
rural communities; and every year the
proportion of the city population which
escapes to the country for summer rest
and recreation increases quite as rapidly
The people of the country enjoy and
appreciate natural scenery, no doubt,
but to those who have been confined to
blocks of stone for eight or ten months
of year it has charm of freshness
and novelty that brings intense delight
and unspeakable refreshmcnt. Good
roads not only help the country on its
way 10 the city, they invite the city to
enjoy the pleasant prospects of the
country. The building and mainten-
ance Of good roads and paths in the
country are investments which will
bring even more abundant pecuniary
return than they will in strictly agricuf
tuml regions. Indeed, there are many
parts of the world which are famous fer
their natural beauties alone, and the
only way to make these attractions
available is by perfecting their system Of