The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-27
SEATTLE. TUESDAY,. DEC. "a.


We are glad to notice that the First
National Bank of Cheha!is has interested
itself in the question of the betterment of
our highways. Somebody has said that
the test of the height OF civilization is
the manner in which it treats its women.
Another excellent test is the quality Of its
public roads. The ancient Romans were
the most skiliful roadmakers of antiquity;
they invariably built their roadbeds with
no more width than was sufficient to per-
init two wagons to conveniently pass each
other. In general, the paved portion of
their ways did not exceed fourteen feet in
width, and they adhered to the principle
Of pavement composed OF block on all
their important great ways.
OF course this type of construction is
impracticable in our country districts on
account of the great cost they entail. In
England and in this country the staple or
standard foundation of the best roads,
says Prof. Shaier, must consist Of broken
stone, the angular faces of the fragments
go driven together that they will cling I'M
moved under any pressure which vehicles
will bring upon them. Whatever be the
variations upon the theme, the plan of
foundation made of angular bits of stone,
and named 'Macadam,' from the man who
first brought it into extensive use, seems
to be firmly fixed in our system of road
construction. Upon this foundation of
coarse material a superstructure for the
contact with the wheel can be made in diff
ferent ways, according to the needs and
conditions to which the roadmaster he's to
adapt his work" On but seven inches Of
this foundation Macadam, the inventor of
this system, built excellent roads over the
worst morasses of Great Britain.
Modern civilization owes far more to
Rome than to Greece. Greece could carve
statue, paint picture, build beautiful
temple, compose a magnificent heroic
poem or drama. but in the kind OF genius
that frames good laws, drains cities.
builds bridges, aqueducts, sewers and
roads, that underlies a civilization of
beauty with q foundation of the greatest
comfort and convenience of the largest
number. Rome surpassed all antiquity,
With his intense practically the Roman
saw the importance of good roads, not
simply IN the military, but in the COM
mercial sense, for their vast system of
paved roads, stretching from the capital
70 the Danube, the Tigris and the English
Channel, started from the center of the
Roman market places. Whether the
legions marched TO Gaul, to Parthia, to
Thrace. to Dacia, to Egypt. to Scythia or
to Spain, behind them on their splendid
military highways rolled the carts of the
peasants seeking the new markets created
by the necessities of both the conqueror and
the conquered. The Romans when they
conquered province annexed it finally by
good roads, and when they ruled a terri
tory that included a hundred millions of
people Rome was the center of network
of highways that provoked the current
saying of that time, "All roads lead to
Rome"
Rome, measured by her superiority az a
builder Of roads, bridges, sewers and
aqueducts was the greatest state of the an
cient world, and today, measured by the
same test, England, France and Germany
are the greatest countries OF Europe. The
necessity OF defending and developing
both military and mercantile interests
brought roads early under national super-
vision, and today these countries have the
most splendid highways in the world.
costing the least to MAINTAIN aud in every
way the most satisfactory and economical.
The invention of steam and the multi
rlication Of the railways, whose rails cover
the entire country with their iron spider-
web work, hes led the people Of the United
States to neglect their roads and high
ways, despite the fact that no country has
greater road mileage IN proportion 10
the population than our own. American
roads are the worst il the world, and thew
are often the worst In tho=c parts Of
America where railroad accommodations
and facilities are most abundant,
Since good roads attract population. Ell.
nance the value Of property. make trans
portation more rapid, more remuneratiye
and less expensive, and are OF great value
10 railroads as feeders the eetterment OF
state highways ought TO ia subject OF
first consequence TO the state legislature
The League of American WAeeimen hsva
begun an agitation for general road i'm.
rrovement, and IL they succeed in rer-
suading the various states 20 make IS good
highways as are found in the ;hree great
enlightened nations Of Europe, the in
yentof q the bicycle will deserve IL lie
c.noniEed by the people as a rhilan-
thropiss, If no. by the church as saint
The great state of New York has road
commission OF five members and intends
to expend il q brief term of years millions
OF dollars 10 establish system of i'm
proved state highways, which shall APP
ryoach, If not equal, those Of Great Britain.
Germany and France in general excellence
and durability Of construction. The SUP
1eot Of highway improvement. IS also en-
gazing the attention OF Massachusetts
Connecticut. Vermont. New Jersey, Penn
sylvAnla and Indiana.
The prosperity Of II. farming popu a.
ton o. England, France and Germany
dates from sae period when coed roads