The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1892-10-19
Good Roads.
William 4. Miller, in the Magazine,
Good Roads.

William 4. Miller, in the Magazine,
Good Roads,
In the past nine years much has
been proposed in the United States by
Congress and others, but little has
been accomplished. About the only
road of consequence the government
has to its credit is portion of the old
National road from Cumberland, Nd,
to Wheeling, q distance of about two
hundred miles, built at a cost of about
81, 100000. Yet this is splendid ex-
ample to show the fruitfulness Of the
judicious placing of coed road, glv-
ing rise to splendid system of pixies
by the Government, State and private
corporations, stretching from Balti-
more to st. Louis and Jefferson City.
This is particularly so in the States of
Maryland and West Virginia. One of
the best systems of artificial roads in
our country is situated in the limestone
region of Frederick and Hagerstown,
Md. Good roads have brought pros
perity to the farmers there, fences are
in good repair, land we'll cultivated,
barns and houses large, comfortable
and we'll painted. But this is only
Tibesti in our great Sahara of mud
roads.
1t surely requires no argument to
convince an American Of the need of
better accommodation and improved
methods governing the common roads
of the country. Our government has
felt the need of good roads as much
and more than any farmer. Of what
SURPRISING value woald have been good
wagon roads from Washington in the
direction of Antietam and Gettysburg
Look at the millions of dollars in
horses, mules, wagons and cannon, to
say nothing of the men, lost in the
mud of Virginia! These roads are no
better at the present day. How fortu-
nate that Sheridan had good pike Oh
which to make his famous ride!
Our country and State road tax sys-
tenn of improvements is hideous fail
ure-such roads never have the services
of skillful engineer, but are invaria-
bly, in the care of laymen, unschooled
as well as unskilled. It is All apparent
fact that We shall never have roads in
keeping with our civilization until
their management is centered in the
Government, as were all the roads Of
history and the splendid modern high
ways Of Europe. Every year rivers
and harbors swallow our money by the
millions, yet the common roads to feed
this commerce get not cent. The
roads are public property, and why
should not the government improve
them by the same legislative care that
is bestowed upon our rivers and har-
bors? What is the value of vessels |
compared to the value Of wheeled We
hicles? What is the proportion of traf-
fic on roads to that on rivers and har-
bors? How much more enduring is |
the work on good road than that in |
a river or harbor? Here is way to |
increase our army in a way that will
not be burden to the people; enlist |
laborers and place them on the high |
ways. Who mined the coal you have |
in that comfortable fire? Were those
shoes of yours made in penitentiary?
We have our criminals competing with
industrious classes; why are they not
Oh the public roads for the public good?
AS long as time lasts man will erect
costly unproductive piles to perpetuate
his memory in the cemeteries; would
it not be more appropriate to build a
pretty memorial stone bridge and pre-
sent it to the public road? Do the
riders and drivers of the country ever
stop to figure the extravaganza of poor
roads, the wear, tear (swear?) and loss
of time, not to mention comfort and
pleasure? How far around man will
20 20 get to drive short distance on a
good road! With a farmer going to
town should not be a question of wealth
er any more than it is on railroad.
He should be in position to take ad-
vantage of any shade of the market,
and not require day to go and one to
return when living but few miles
from town.
The system iu general use in our
country of temporary road-n.aking-
piling up dirt to be washed down by
the first rain is no more than that OF
the Hebrews and Greeks. If it is i'm
possible for US to approach the Romans
or the Incas, can we not do as much as
Carthage?
Children Cry for Pitchers Castoria.