New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-11
NATIONAL HIGHTAY COMMISSION

Il Il
Writing of the road problem few weeks
ago. TIE TRIBUNE stated that one OF the re-
suits of the agitation in favor Of general I'M
provement of the highways of the country was
a measure, then being perfected, providing for
a National Highway Commission This meas
ure was introduced last week by Senator Man
derson and referred to the Committee on
Interstate Commerce. The main features of
the bill we have already published. Senator
Henderson prefaced its presentation with
few cogcnt remarks, saying, among other
things: Il do not believe there could be
better expenditure Of public money than To AID
the States in the construction OF great model
highway that would connect the city of Wash
ineton with the city of New-Iork, passing
through the cities Of Baltimore and Phlla-
dephia Every farmer and producer along the
road would he infinitely benefited" The sen
ator embodied in his speech letter received
from General Roy Stone, a gentleman who
has given much thought 10 the subject OF road
reform. In this letter Mr. stone argues that
since the general Government has extended
aid and credit Of some sort 10 canal and rall-
road companies, National banks. agricultural
colleges and experiment stations, and since " 1t
will presently guarantee the interest on hun
drcd millions Of the bond, of a private com
pany to build canal outside OF the nltcd
states" it will merely be consistent ." III
helping those communities which Will help
themselves in any part of the country to build
roads that are necessary for the general wei
fare" General Stone concludes his Letter by
pointing ont how. in his opinion, the Govern
;,poif IL lcu1iup credit
to the communities in question.
The introduction OF the bill is notable step
in the progress Of this great public spirited
movement The attempt u secure satisfactory
rapid transit Tor the cities Of our country bids
fair t. succeed before lonc-ndeed. in many
of them it has already been crowned with sue
cess. This is gratifying, but why do not
the people Of the rural districts insist that
,apid transit in the cities shall be supplemented
with improved transit in the country? If they
fail thus to insist they will stand in their own
light. since il needs no argument To show that.
other things being equal. the better the roads
Of any given section the more prosperous the
farmers.
THE Boston Transcript" in Il recent article
ON good roads. held that there i reason
for having good roads in New England which
docs not exist in equal strength in other Parts
Of the country. Almost the whole of rural
New England has become Fla! ground Tor
summer visitors. and the atiIa-,iycncSS for such
visitors of particular district depends IN CON
siderable measure upon the state OF the reads
Il there not hint in this for ortcrpriSlnG COM
munitics outside Of New England? Nowadays
cycrybod> goes of somewhere for Il long or
short vacation. Where shall they go? In the
decision Of this question the matter of roads
pla,s an important part with good many
people, part .culaily with our friends who drive
or ride bicycles.
Now that proposition to provide for Ma
tional Highway Commission is before Con-
crcsS. the friends Of the reform may well feel
encouraged ~ work for its advancement with
increased carncstncss. IT. bchOovcS them by
petitions and letters and personal appeals to
convince their representatives at Washington
that they purpose not to rest until road reform
is an accomplished fact.