The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-11-16
THE ROAD COMMISSION.
What is Being Done in the Interest
Of Better Highways.
REASONS FOR POOR R. |. ROADS.
The Country Towns DO Not Take SUM
cient Care in the Kind of Material Used
The Commission Has Inspected More
Than 500 Miles of Highway.

One of the most important commits
sions ever appointed for the welfare ana
comfort of the whole State is the Road
Commission appointed at the January
session of the General Assembly. The
commission cons sts OF George +. A.
Beane OF Johnston, chairman; Walter A.
Read of Chepachet, j. {. b. Woods OF
Providence. Ellery IA. Wilson of East
Providence. Martin G.. Parks of RICH
mopd. William Il. Clarke of Newport,
William III. Covell of Providence and
Charles f. Chace of Bristol. Mr.. Chace
has acred as secretary of the commission
and George Farnell AS clerk.
The object of the commission was n
general inspection OF all the man
thoroughfares of the state with view TO
remedying the existing condition or bad
roads in nearly every section. A report
is 10 be made to the General Assembly at
the january session 1898 and the commits
sion is directed to recommend something
TO be done by the state toward bettering
the condition of the highways.
The commissioners have taken an ac-
tive interest i'm the work from the start
and at present writing have completed
the inspection of the main roads in nearly
ALI the counties The commission began
its work by sending out circulars To the
town clerks of all the towns in the state
in which were numerous questions TO be
answered in writing, as TO the number
of miles of road in each town, the cost
of keeping in repair for several years past,
the manner of repairing, whether the
work is let out or done by the town
authorities and other questions very
pertiuent TO the objects of the commits
sion. These circulars were all answered
and then the commission began It's real
work, that of driving over the roads and
examining into their construction.
The commission goes out in open con-
yeyances, such as two-seated wagon,
that will carry three beside the driver,
i'm order that the roads may be viewed
more closely and with as little difficulty
as possible Up TO the present eleven
trims have been made at each OF which
the number of commissioners has aver
aged five or six and the average daily
trip has been thirty miles. Thus 1T Will
be seen that betweeen 300 and $50 miles
of road has been traversed. Beside the
construction of the roads the commits
sioners have taken care to note whether
there were resources near at hand for I'M
proyement without the outlay OF large
sum of money. IL was found that in
many towns where the roads are built OF
the natural sand or loan where they hap
pen TO run, there are gravel banks near
at hand or at least plenty of rock to feed
a stone crusher. The people OF the coun-
try towns need little education in this
matter as we'll as in other things. III
they find that it is less expensive III the
long run TO build their highways OF
gravel or macadam than of sand or clay
IL is almost needless TO say that they will
follow that plan.
Tne commission has visited and in
spected all the main thorougfares OF New
port. Bristol and Washington counties
and part of Kent and Providence coun-
ha M E,agt and WpQt (rrppI-
wich and Coventry in Kent county re-
main to be visited and the next trip OF
inspection will be to those towns. Smith
field, North Smithiield, North Providence,
Woonsocket, Cumberland, Lincoln. Paw
tucket and East Providence also remain
10 be inspected. The roads are better in
the northern part of the state and thus il
was Thought best to visit the other Dor
tious first, so as TO finish those sections
before winter. II is probable, however,
that. the present favorable weather hold
ing, the whole state Will have been gone
over before snow flies.
The commission finds that the most
noticeable cause of the bad state OF the
roads in all sections OF tho state, is the
continued use of poor material for repairs
as well as OF building and the lack OF care
In pounding up the center of the roadbeds
or turn piking," as it is called. There
has been some talk among the commis-
sioners of going out side the state after
the inspecting is completed and examin-
ing the roads in adjacent portions OF
neighboring states with view of com
pairing the different methods of road
building and the results.
There has been some talk in the com
mission of giving public hearings after
the inspecting rides are over at which the
views and suggestions of all interested in
the matter may be aired and much may
be learned thereby. The commission i.
doing its work faithfully and much goot
may be expected TO result from it. What
will be recommended to the General AS
sembly is not yet known, but the quality
of the commission makes IL certain tha
whatever il may be will be for the bes
interests of the State as a whole.