Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-17
GOOD ROADS A HELP.
Reasons Why They Should BE Built
All Over the Land.
AN UNAPPRECIATED BLESSING.
The Economic Significance Of Adequate
Eural Highways
THE ELEMENTS OF PERFECT ROADWAYS

'tRoads and Road Making" was the sub
| ject of recent lecture delivered BY Charles
T. Davis under the auspices of the Depart
ment of Political Economy Of the North
western University at Chicago. In his
| opening remarks the lecturer said that road
| construction is one of the first indications
of the emergence of the people from the
savage state. Road improvement under ordi-
nary conditions keeps pace with the advance
of the nation in numbers, wealth, industries
and sciences. Industrial progress in the
United States during the past quarter of
century has not been uniform. The
rapid and enormous development in rail-
road construction has for time overshad-
owed other forms of roa making. The
problem of railroad building having been
now practically settled the people are
awaking to the fact that they must grap-
pie with the still greater problem of road
making.
Appreciation of Good Roads.
"Roads belong to that unappreciated class
of blessings" said the lecturer, ''of which
the value and Importance are not fully felt
Bad roads make it difficult for the farmer to
market his grain, except during fractional
part of the year, the consequence of which
is the crowding down of prices BY the
plethora of supply; the farmer, having no
choice of times for disposing of his produce,
must force it upon the market while prices
are lowest
Gas soon as the bad roads keep the
farmer at home then the prices go up. He
| is thus robbed not only OF the benefit of a
continuous selling market, but is forced to
use the roads when he could be working his
| fields to the best advantage The growing
crop suffers while he is marketing the one
last gathered. Not only this, but as soon
as the spring thaw begins thousands
| of farmers are compelled to stay at home
and allow the products that they have tor
sale to rot on the farm. This barricade of
mud not only makes the farmers lose mill
! ions, but brings bankruptcy and ruin to
many country merchants who are deprived
| of communication with their customers.
| This reflects from country places TO towns
| and cities. causing slow collections and
money stringencies among manufacturers
| and wholesale dealers
America Has the Poorest Roads.
''The United States although the richest
country in the world, has the poorest con-
structed roadways of any civilized country.
There is social side to the question. Bad
roads make visiting among those living
in the country an impossibility, cause the
young people to be disguised with the
weariness and solitude OF their lives and
to long to migrate to cities. The chief OBJ
stacle to good roads in a country spread
out so thinly as the United States is the
lack OF general information on the subject.
The ordinary road supervisors knowledge
of roadmaking extends only to the plowing
out of ditch an / rounding up of the road
bed There seems to be the greatest lack
of civil engineering capacity shown in lay
ing, altering and improving highways
Influence. of Roads on Prosperity.
''The condition of roads exerts great in
| fuence upon the prosperity of town and
country. In addition to enriching the
farmer it raises him socially, commercially
| and financially. 1t broadens his influence,
! contributing greatly to the contentment
and happiness of his family, bringing him
and his household In nearer touch with all
| the healthful, improving and civilizing in
| fluences of the outer but broader and more
progressive world, q closer contact with
which does not fail to bring larger profits
| TO the farm. It is only false economy,
| therefore, to put off incurring an obligation
which sooner or later must be made, espe-
cially when delay brings immediate DAM
age. II the farmers will send to the Legis-
lature men who will work and vote for good
roads instead OF sparrow-scalping acts, i'm
passable roads will soon cease to be tax
on the farming community.
"One of the first things to he done is 10
amend the tax laws and the roa laws.
Under the present laws the farmers pay the
entire tax, while the merchants, tradesmen
and forwarders are equally benefited by
good roads.
Revenues for Road Building.
''The most serious problem met with in
nearly all the States at present is the man.
ner of raising the necessary revenue for
road building. The French system divides
roads into three classes, national, prefec-
ture and village roads The national roads
are built and kept in repair by the State,
the work being done by the prefectures
along the line. The second class of roads
are kept up at the joint expense of
the state aud prefecture each paying half
and the village roads are built and main
tanned bv local taxation under the engi-
neerlng authority OF the prefecture. The
material used for making country roads in
France is usually marble, flint, stone or
gravel, and whatever is used is Of the best
quality and free from all foreign substances.
''There is, however. no need of going
abroad to see good roads. Near Shepherds
town, w. Va, from the Antietam station
of the Norfolk and Western Railway
through Sharpsburg to the National Gene
terry are macadamized roads equal to any in
the world Some pieces of the Sheridan
road also show skill in construction, but the
greater part of it is poorly made and is
not, in its present condition, credit to the
officials in charge.
Elements of a Perfect Road.
"Some of the problems interviewer with
the road question, and which in the future
must be fully discussed, are:
The kind of roads to build.
The method of work to be followed
The character and suitability OF having
material.
The employment of convicts in the con-
struction OF public roads.
The creation o. bonded indebtedness by
townships, county or State to facilitate the
rapfd Construction of roads.
The limitation to be imposed in authortz-
ing the creation OF such an indebtedness.
Legislation having in view a systematic
form OF road construction within the limits
of the various States.
Show road construction and improvement
based on the principles of cash payment
The best place for the beginning of road
Improvement, whether the commencement
should be made in the various townships by