Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1891-04-03
A NATIONAL PLAN.
Gen. Roy Stones Gigantic Scheme for
Highway Improvement.

Highway Improvement.
Gen. Roy Stone, who during the war
commanded the famous Pennsylvania
brigade known as the Buck Tail rifles,
has, Notwithstanding his absorbing &C.
equations, given much thought to the
subject of the Improvement of country
roads. Being recently consulted in ref
erence to the preparation of a measure
to be introduced in state legislature, he
has formulated much broader scheme,
the scope of which is national The other
evening [ met him at the Union League
club, and took advantage Of the oppor-
tunity to get his views and suggestions
upon this important subject more in de-
tail. He said, rather in explanation Of
the largeness of his scheme: mo good
roads have ever been built by local effort,
except in the richest communities. In
England, SO long as the local system pre-
vailed, the roads were so bad that Ma
caulay was moved to say, The fruits of
the earth were sometimes suffered to rot
in one place, while few miles distant
the supply fell far short of the demand
And he said further: One chief cause of
the badness of the roads was the defect
i've state of the law. Every parish was
bound to repair the roads which passed
through it, and thus q sparse and i'm
poverished rural population was COM
PEELED to maintain highways between
rich and populous towns"
Gin this respect" continued Gen.
Stone, ';we are just where England was
C00 EnryIo,H moi thn
Guilty by the establishment of turnpikes
with tolls, and 10000 miles of these
roads had been built in Macaulay's day.
The turnpike system does not seem,
however, to meet the approval of our
people, and something else must be de-
vised. Such being the case, [ have sug-
gested q national plan, which, though
new in the form suggest it, is not real
" a new question in our national poll
tics. It was a most vexed question in
the days of our grandfathers, and its
constitutionality was defended upon the
ground that congress had a right to pro-
vide for the common defense and also to
establish post roads. In France, where
are found perhaps the best roads in the
world, the minister Of public works has
charge Of all roads. These roads are
national OF vicinal. OF the first there
are $4,000 miles, and these are entirely
maintained from the national treasury
The vicinal or cross roads are maintain
ed chiefly by the various communes."
"What do you think Of Governor Hills
suggestions to the New York legisla-
ture?' l asked.
'They are admirable, and so far as New
York state is concerned they, if embod-
led in laws, might answer the purpose
very well. But for New York, in a
measure, and for most other states to
greater extent his plan would be much
more costly one to the taxpayers than
my broader method. The national gov
eminent has had for some time and is
likely to have under our laws a large
surplus. This surplus could be lent to
the states at a very much lower rate of
interest than any Of these states could
borrow money from the public. My
plan as ut first outlined was this:
81 National financing, to secure the lowest
rate Of interest. uniform in all the states, and
longest term of repayment.
~, State control of disbursement under some
form of national supervision; a permanent Or
ganization Of trained experts, etc.
50. Local option for each local application of
the scheme.
charge between the nation, state and district.
and q local adjustment in the latter according
to benefits directly conferred.
HThis plan alnplified," said Gen Stone,
s'would be to this effect:
DaoIa,o oil n, ror+ec ,,oct ro,ds
''2. Establish a bureau of post roads in the de-
partment of the interior.
80. Whenever any state shall have adopted
the necessary legislation, and provided the |
machinery for availing itself Of national aid,
let it apply to tho bureau Of post roads for a
joint survey. of any post road within it's limits
which it desires improved and plan for the |
improvement of tho same, the state providing
for any relocation of tho road that may be ad-
vantageous.
Il. The state to execute such under super
vision of the United States bureau.
IS. The United States to pay the cost of i'm
provement.
IS. The state to pay per cent, per annum on
such cost and two-thirds Of the amount at a
finally. 1
~. The United States bureau to prepare plans
for q national school Of roads and bridges.
50. Local labor, if available, to be given the
preference in all such improvements.
SO. The United States to have the option of
making all payments for such improvements
in silver coin.
Cor if this plan be looked upon at pres
ent as impraeticable or too great an In
novation," said he, :'let there be a ma
tional commission appointed to look into
the subject and report its conclusions
from time to time"
"What are post roads," asked.
''All public roads are post routes, and
all roads leading to county towns are
fpnst roads All post routes (by wagon
road could be made post roads, and
thus any road in the country could be
made national road. If, however, only
the actual mail routes, by wagon, vera
declared post roads there would be 200,~
900 miles subject 10 improvement under
the provision of the constitution to
establish post roads"
"What amount could be proftably ex-
pended in this manner?'
''There is hardly any limit to this
But a mile of good maeadam can be
built for 81, 500. If we should have 100,-
900 miles Of such roads the cost would
be $750. coo, eco. Ii this should be done
in fifteen years it would only cost $780,
100000 per year.
'And how would you raise this mon.
ey?"
eff the surplus in the treasury were
not adequate why could not the $780,
100000 Of silver be earning interest in
some such way. But this is a question
FOR the tinanciers. not for the engineers
I am convinced, however, if the silver
plan were feasible the road building
would absorb large quantities Of silver
coin and retain it, ana the money would
be applied as financial relief where it is
most needed-thatis, among the farmers
It would go right to the spot of want
and dissatisfaction end work its way
up Now, any and ell relief goes to the
money centers, and must work its way
down with great difficulty and cost to
those who need it most"
Friends.
ut is the edict of the world" said the
man" laugh and the world laughs with
you; weep and you weep alone Friends