The Portland daily press., 1892-03-25
TIE FUTURE OF OUR WAGON RoA,s.
Interest in Their Improvement Is Rapid
Iy Developing.

Interest in Their Improvement Is Rapid
Iy Developing.
The interest in our public highways, if
less developed than the interest in
American railways, is rapidly increas-
ing. It has been pointed out that il the
vacant farms are to be reinhabited one
factor in their successful cultivation VIII
be better system of common roads, by
which the agricultural products can
more easily reach the local market. The
movement for these improved highways
has received the attention OF the govern
ors of quite number Of our states, who
have asked their several legislatures to
make provision for better systems Of
roadmadng, and it is proposed by Mr..
Claypoole, q civil engineer writing in
The Engineering Magazine, that profess
sional roadn1aking companies shall be
organized, who will contract for the
construction of highways, as contracts
are now taken for the building of rail-
roads. 1t is evident that if the high
ways in the rural districts are to be i'm
proved upon and made into useful
thoroughfares they must be constructed
by people who know how to make them.
At present the working out of the high
way tax by individuals, or the transfer
of this duty to the town roadmaster, is
not method that amounts to anything
more than system of costly repairs.
The rains Of one season wash away the
roads that have been repaired, and there
is no wise method employed in their con-
struction which limits the constant dam
age Of storms and foods. This wasteful
system has gone as far as it ought to.
The plan now more in vogue is to place
the roadn1aking in the hands of the
state or the county, and to have the
highways laid out with reference to the
convenience of the largest number of
the people. It appears impossible to Sc
cure proper roads in the sparsely settled
towns in any other way, and if good
wagon thoroughfares are desired be-
tween inpolhant localities it is no more
than right that the more important
towns should contribute largely for
their construction.
1t has been demonstrated that the
roads which cost the most are usually
the cheapest, because there is very little
expense required for them after their
first cost has been met. Dnquestion-
ably the country is prepared to put it's
wagon roads in better condition, and
people who look at agricultural interests
and the Development Of the large towns
are regarding the wagon roads in diff
ferent light from what they once did.
The present pope, when bishop of Peru
gia, began his administration of the
church by mapping out system of road
improvement for the whole province,
and it was by these improvements that
he FIRST became known as an organizer
that the Church of Rome could justly
place in it's highest Office. He was not
content to build single great road, but
be united one road with another, SO that
the whole province was infused with
new life. The French and the Swiss are
the great European masters of highways
In Switzerland the people have made
their fortunes by providing good common
roads for the tourists of the world, and
in France, where the best wagon roads
in the world are to be found, ever SINCE
Napoleon organized method of road
building, the government has kept con.
troll of this public service and managed
it in such way that the rural people Of
France have been able to take their
products, however perishable, cheaply
and quickly to market, and make tbs
most of their industries.
Larger ideas should prevail IN the
making of our wagon roads, and, as a
near and forcible Illustration Of the
value of good wagon roads in the devel-
opment Of property, we refer to the
highways in Brookline and in the towns
along the North Shore. Wherever the
highways have been, thoroughly i'm
proved the property has rapidly in
creased in value, and has been purchased
by those who have built up the commu-
nifty in which they have decided to live.
The two great principles which affect
the building of wagon roads are business
and pleasure. The first necessity is that
good roads shall bring neighborhoods
close together and the producer within
easy access to his market. and the Sec
ond is that the people in the towns and
cities shall be able to use the highways
for social and family driving. Wherever
in town or country good roads exist the
prosperity of the community seems to be
assured, and with the more intensive
cultivation of the land the Importance
of better facilities for wagon commune
cation is greatly increased. - Boston
Herald.