The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-04-20
THE MOVEMENT FOR BETTER ROADS
1t Began In New Jersey but Has Tx.
tended in Ala Directions.

ErsE WOVEMEN FOh BE fEn nOftlos
1t Began In New Jersey but Has Ex-
tended in ALI Directions.
The movement toward highway i'm
provemeut has probably attained greater
proportions in New Jersey than in any
other state Of the Union. In speaking
of it the New York Times says:
The movement for improved roads be-
gan in Union county, N. j., under the
influence of DR.. Chauncsy B. Ripley, Of
Westfeld. DR.. Ripley has worked twen-
ty-fve years toward the attainment of
this important project, and he is said to
have expended 800, 900 in object lessons
for improved roads. The movement
thus begun has spread rapidly, and
Union county today has improved roads
from Elizabeth, the county seat, extend
ing in all directions The experiment.,
if it may be so called, has been most
successful one, and the science of main
tanning and equipping these roads is
gradually being perfected. One of the
most significant outgrowths of the i'm
proved road project is the hearty sym
pathy accorded it in the New Jersey
state legislature. Fortunately the friends
of the project were enabled to secure
the enthusiastic interest of the members
OF the legislature irrespective of political
influence, and being thus freed from
what so frequently embarrasses and i'm
pedes legislative cooperation the i'm
proved road project was Endorsed by all
the state authorities. Governor Albeit
is one of the most hearty supporters Of
the system.
The movement has by no means been
restricted to New Jersey. On the con-
trary, widespread interest has been
developed in nearly every state in the
Union, as is evidenced by the recon-
mendations made in the annual mes
sages Of the governors of several states
advocating improved roads throughout
all parts of their commonwealth.
Governor Mckinley, of Ohio, in his
message, referred to the improved road
idea as necessary part Of the benefits
that might be secured to all classes and
particularly to the farmers. Governor
Beaver, of Pennsylvania, indorsed the
project in two annual messages, as have
also Governors Albeit, Hill and BuIke-
ley.
The last and by far the most impor-
tant move in the direction of improved
roads is the interest manifested by the
general government. A few months
ago letters were sent from the depart
ment of state to every American consul
all over the globe instructing each one
to investigate the history and methods
Of the system of roads employed in the
country in which they were situated,
and to make report on the subject to
the department. of state. The consuls
responded in a way that has given great
satisfaction to every friend of the i'm
proved road idea. Their reports have
been carefully arranged by the depart
ment and bound in a volume of 400
pages, forming the finest encyclopedia
of roads that has ever been compiled. Il
may be had upon application at the state
department.
Among the countries that have con-
tributed chapters to this interesting
volume are Australia, the FIJI islands,
Philippine islands, Japan, Ceylon, China,
the West Indies and South America.
The information obtained from these
countries consists of answers to num-
Der of carefully prepared questions which
cover the subject in its most comprehen-
sive form.
It is noticeable that The roads through
out Europe are far superior to those in
the United States; indeed, gentleman
was heard to say yesterday that nothing
struck him so forcibly in his travels on
the continent as the superiority of the
roads. He explained that,the reason for
this advanced movement is due to the
fact that the countries in which he
Travelled have civilization extending
back a thousand years, while that of the
United States embraces but hundred.
One Of the most important statements
made in the report in question is the
marked increase in the value of agri-
cultural land situated on the improved
roads. 1t is estimated that farm prop
erty thus benefited increases in value
from to Is per cent, which is surely
sufficient communication to establish the
necessity for cooperation in the move
ment that has been started in New Jer-
sey. One frequently hears it said that
history furnishes no instance Of the rapid
recovery Of country from disturbance
SO rapid and complete as that of France,
and the recovery in this instance is said
to be due directly to the condition of
the roads, which are in such high state
Of improvement as to place nearly all
agricultural classes within reach of the
markets, thus facilitating the transnor-
tation of farm produce and lessening
the cost Of it. The good roads which
form SO distinguishing a characteristic
of the French system were originally
created by Napoleon l, who planned
most elaborate project in this direction
for the purpose Of moving his army with
ease and dispatch. Napoleon III carried
out the plans thus originated by his
uncle, and in this way there was perpetu-
ated monument CT Napoleonic sagacity
that will endure through generations.
The active workers for the project of
itnnrOvad roads in New Tnrrov hatioyo