Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-08
THE "GooD ROADS" CAMPAIGN.
Railroad Companies Asked TO Aid the
Movement.

Movement.
Much Of the evils that the country suffers
from, il the extremely active propagandists
who have taken up the cause Of good roads
are TO be believed, will be remedied by the i'm
provement of the common roads and highways
of the country. At any rate the representa-
tions made show that many advantages would
be gained both in point Of material prosperity
and Of improved social conditions by better
means of communication. The most recent
effort made in behalf Of the good roads"
movement is one to secure the aid Of the great
railroad corporations on the ground that those
corporations would be benefited by the general
improvement following better highways. Mr.
Albert A. Pope. who is at the head Of the move
ment, has addressed letter to a number of
railroad presidents as follows:
Permit me to urge upon your attention the
great Importance Of good roads as feeders TO
railroads. Throughout the United States the
condition OF the common country roads is the
index to the prosperity of railroads. When
highways are impossible freight and passenger
earnings are necessarily diminished and the
price of railroad securities lowered; when the
roads are in good condition merchandise IL ac-
cumulated at the depots and in moving il trains
are delayed and accidents increased. uni
form good condition Of roads would enable rail-
roads to handle freight more expeditiously and
advsntageously.
GOOD roads are the means by which a coun-
try is built up populousy and prosperously;
bad roads delay civilization and cause districts
to be sparsely settled and poverty and ignorance
to abound.
The railroad companies Of this country,
representing millions of employees and billions
of capital and controlled and directed by men
Of high intelligence, have q commanding infiu-
ence in every legislative hall in the United
States.
every railway corporation can request its
officers, agents and employees to do what they
can to create a right sentiment in regard to the
improvement Of highways in their respective
neighborhoods and all along the various lines de
pot masters and freight agents could report toa
road department. established by the company,
the condition of the roads in their towns and what
is being done to improve them. These depot
masters could be furnished from time TO time
with pamphlets containing instructions for the
construction and maintenance of high
ways, for distribution to persons doing
business at their stations, and thus educate
them how to build better roads, as well rs teach
them that better highways effect saving in trans
portation. Any railroad running through Q
territory having good roads must have a great
advantage over a competing line with poor roads
from its stations.
1.-The executive officers Of q railroad corpor-
alton can instruct Representatives in Congress
on the importantance of better highways SO
that favorable legislation may be secured.
Newspapers to whom railroad companies extend
their patronage might be requested to devote
space to agitating this matter.
THE building up Of suburban districts which
Is of such profitable character TO railroads, Is
first brought about by the construction Of good
roads by those who wish TO sell land.
'Aside from the material advantages that
may accrue to a railroad by its aiding in the
work Of agitating this subject, there is to be
considered the broader question of the great
benefits that might beconferred upon the entire
community Win you not aid this great move
ment, which ia of go much national importance?
There will be sent to you a memorial TO
Congress on the subject Of roads, which con-
tains the opinions Of the following presidents
of railroads: Stuyvesant Fish, Illinois Central
railroad; N. E. ingalls,, Cleveland, Cincinnati,
Chicago and st. Louis railway; C. J. Ives. Bur-
ington. Cedar Rapids and Northern railway;
W. Q. Van Horne, Canadian Pacific railway and
many others"
Low Fare and Special Trains to Frederick.
In addition 10 the low excursion rates via the
B. and o. r. R. which viii be offered those at
tending the Frederick, Nd, fair, October IL to
IA, q special low rate Of s1.65 will be offered
from Washington. including admission to the
fair, on Wednesday and Thursday, October II
and Is, tickets 10 be good on day Of sale only.
On the same dates special train viii leave b.
and o. station, Washington, at $50 am, ar
irving ct Frederick st 11:io q. m, and returning
VIII leave Frederick at 500 p.m.-Adut