The Portland daily press., 1892-02-03
NEGLECTED COUNTRY ROADS.
America Is just Beginning to Realize
the Necessity of Reform.


adam, in 1885, there has been practically
no advance in the scientific construc-
ton of roads except in cities The great
national benefit Macadam conferred
upon his country was evinced by gov
eminent grants amounting to 100000
and the offered honor of knighthood,
which was declined. One great reason,
and undoubtedly the principal one, for
this lack of interest and appreciation of
the vast utility of good roads is to be
found in the fact that railroads, since
the DAYS of Macadam, have to a great
extent removed the pressing need of
good common roads.
The Pullman and Wagner have super
seeded the old time coach, and the freight
train instead of the wagon is now the
common carrier. That the nondevelop-
ment of system of good roads in the
United States is due to the enormous
expansion of our railroad system is
clearly illustrated in the history OF the
Cumberland or old National road, once
esteemed the most enduring monument
of the public services of Henry Clay
Passing from Cumberland, Md, across
the Alleghanies and across Ohio and
part of Indiana, the road, before the de-
velopment of railroads, became the chief
highway of travel and trade.
Towns, villages and taverns rose along
its borders every few miles and -four
ished extraordinarily, but now, except
when they are at the intersection of rail-
road lines, have fallen into decay. The
road itself has been neglected and the
greater part of it is fast returning to the
condition of mere muddy country
road, the tollgates having disappeared,
and with their departure also passed the
only reliable source of income. The
states and counties into whose jurisdie-
ton the road has fallen have lamentably
failed to appreciate the great advantage
of keeping it in repair, and even the
magnificent bridges which span the
rivers and creeks are slowly yielding to
neglect. "a
The Cumberland road presents the
most striking illustration in the United
States of a great forward move in the
direction of great system of national
and state roads lamentably unsupported
by public appreciation and foresight.
With the failure of revenue from the
road itself, owing to the diversion of
travel to railroads, there was not suffi-
Gent provision on the part of the people
to devise other means of maintaining
the road and building others Like ituntil
across the Alleghanies and the hills of
Ohio, the fields of Indiana and the prai-
ries of the west, macadamized roads
should stretch like ribbons of silver, bind
ing together city and country by roads
easy and delightful to travel upon.
Within the last year or two, however,
there has begun movement for better
roads that is arousing public interest
everywhere, and it now looks as if an era
of permanent in roadmaking is
about to commence. Railroads, it has
been found, are not sufficient for the
needs, to say nothing of the comfort and
happiness of the people. For three or
four months Of the year the greater part
,of the rural population of the United
States is practically shut off from neigh
boring towns and the nearest railroad
by mud roads whose passage at times is
almost impossible.
Farmers themselves, with a patience
not to be commended, have suffered the
inconvenience and discomfort, while
year by year their farms, in consequence,
have decreased in value and farm life
has become more and more unattractive.
The so called 'troad working" of most
rural regions Is unworthy the name and
is almost useless expense Of time and
labor. What is needed is the awaken
ing of the people to a realizing sense of
the utility and financial benefit of good
roads and the application Of scientific
principles of roadmaking and repair.
Poor country roads thus entail yearly
a great expense to the farmers, who have
to use them not only because of the small
load team can draw, but also on &C
count of damage to vehicles. In Illinois,
according to Professor j. W. jerks
"Road Legislation for the American
State" it is found that full load can
be carried on the state roads only three
months during the year, two-thirds of a
load three months and half a load six
months.
Good dirt roads In this state would re-
duce the cost one-half and good perma-
nent macadamized roads three-fourths; |
hence it has been estimated that the de-
fective highways of Illinois now cost the
state an extra $15, 346, 800 for hauling and
depreciate the value of its farms $780,
100000. II the figures be even approx
imately correct the movement for better
roads should meet with the hearty in
dorsement of the people of Illinois, and |
legislation with view to improving the
roads Of the state should occupy fore
most place in the next session Of the gen.
eral assembly.-Chicago Herald.
How Bad Roads Hinder Rural Growth.
Lately northern man, who thought |
of buying tract of land for occupation
and handsome improvement somewhere
in Maryland in the vicinity of Washing
ton, undertook to explore the region in
question, but was so much Disguised by
his experiences in trying to find his
way through the labyrinth of wretched
H. III lol I,