Montgomery County sentinel., 1891-07-03
Road Reform in New Jersey,

pamphlet by Mr.. Charles g. Mcbride, o
the road Improvement committee Of Unien
county, N. j., tells how road reform was
successfully agitated in Union county and
the State Of New Jersey, and how the county
road bill was passed, and describes the i'm
proveme nts in the roads and the benefits the
new law has brought. The pamphlet is
issued by the New Jersey Division of the
League of American Wheelmen, who, of
course, have special interest in the improve
ment o. our public thoroughlares every
where. The movement for change in
Union county began three or four years ago.
At that time the roads were very much
what they are in most parts Of Maryland
wretched in bad weather, and often almost
impassable. The System" of repairs there,
as here, was really no system, consisting in
annually shoveling gutter dirt into the
middle of the highway" only to be washed
back again into the bitches at the side or
kneaded in rainy weather into quagmire
The first effective agitation was commenced
| by the newspapers. Public interest in the
matter was finally aroused, and early in
January, 1889, a number of public.spirited
citizens of the county organized to push the
proposed reform. Two main ideas domi-
mated. One was that the roads must be
taken out of the hands of the district over
seers or supervisors and the road tax abol-
ished. Another was that the cost of inn
provement must be divided, the large cities
taking an equitable share The result was
the enactment of legislation by which bonds
to the amount of 100000 were issued and q
direct tax of $685. 900 was laid. The work of
improvement was carried out by the county
board of freeholders, without regard to po-
ltical considerations, and forty miles Of Tel
ford and Macadam roads were built in the
best manner. As a result, we are informed
that the property in Union county has ap-
preciated in value far more than the cost of
the roads, and there has been no increase in
the tax rate. "Our county roads" says Mr..
Mcbride, "have not only been convenience
to travel and a financial success; they have
been a source Of pleasant education to many.
1t is fact that these main lines, now daily
alive with travel, were formerly used only
upon necessity. A smaller proportion of
the people in our cities kept horses and car
riages than in any other cities of their size
because there were no convenient or COM
Portable drives. Thousands never saw the
beautiful scenery spread in rich profusion
within few miles of their homes, because
it was dangerous or distasteful to travel
over the old roads. Now the magnificent
tnoroughfares are thronged, and people
wonder at the new beauties brought to
view. Many who never before thought of
keeping horses and carriages now take the
keenest pleasure in driving over these
smooth, clean, hard roads"
What has been done in Union county is
much more than would be needed in many
of the counties OF Maryland, but similar re-
suits would follow intelligent and earnest
effort on the part Of people. AS the Sun has
frequently urged, the subject is one of great
practical importance to the farmers and
fruit growers especially--a matter of dollars
and cents in the transportation OF their pro-
duce, to say nothing of the increased COM
fort and conve nience good roads would
mean for the general public Agitation of
the subject in every county would result in
the proper legislation, and the cost of per-
manent improvement would undoubtedly
be met by an enhancement of values such
as followed the work described in New Jer
sey.-BaIto. Sun