The Press., 1892-08-04
Christian Unfon.) ROAD IMPROVEMENT.


 The improvement of our public roads has become matter of national interest. There is hardly state in the union that has not recently made some special effort for the betterment of it's highways. Some novel methods of road reform as applied in California are described by & contributor on another page. New Jer- sey is well at the front in this important reform. In Union county of that state system of improved roads has just been completed, opening up the entire country. One can drive carriage, ride a bicycle, or go on foot from the county seat to any other city or township of the county on these Telford roads without soiling the Burdens three time as heavy as hereto fore can be hauled upon them with the same horsepower, with far less wear and tear to vehicles, and with much greater ease and comfort to draught animals and drivers. Since the construction of these improved roads, the country through which they pass has changed as if by magic, and central New Jersey is develop ing by reason of them at rate before un- known for half a century. New impetus is given to every enterprise and industry along their lines. Agricultural lands have increased in value twice the costs of the roads already; while lands suitable for villas and other building purposes have increased more largely in propor- tion. In some localities the advance has been as great as fifty per cent. on fofme4
 values, and in others it has been even hundred per cent. These excellent inn proved county roads are the pride of New Jersey and the admiration of all who travel them. There is not. we believe, in the United States, anywhere else to b"
 found another system of country roads SC complete, so continuous, and so extensive,
 They extend from the city of Elizabeth to the city of Plainfield; from the city of | Railway north to Springfield and Sum-
 init making contact with all other town ships, intersecting at Wethersfeld, the center of Union county.
 One of the most influential men in ac- complaining this road reform in New Jer- sey has been Chauncey B. Ripley, IL. D.,
 well known lawyer of this city, who re-
 sides in Westfield, conducting his law | practice in New York. He has spent great.deal of leisure time and much money
 in road reform for some years, and is said | to have planted elms and naples enough
 along the sidewalks of his village to reach l from his residence to the post office in the
 city of New York. He has made ad-
 dresses on the subject of road improve
 ment, and has contributed articles to the
 papers on the same topic. The example
 of Dr. Ripley is one particularly worthy
 of attention at this time; it shows what
 one man of energy and enthusiasm, while carrying on his everyday business, can
 accomplish in the cause of social reform 1;
 for the improvement of our county roads
 may justly be called social reform. This reform has been well inaugurated.
 The Century Magazine Harper's Week. ly, and many other periodicals have print ed articles on the subject, and there is
 regularly published in this city maga- zine entitled Good Roads, devoted to the cause. The American people have only
 to come to realization of the import. ance to national life of the country
 roads, and this reform will be carried or } with enthusiasm and success. If the l money and time which the nation now expends in useless "river and haTbol
 bills" could be put into the scientific i'm
 provement and development of country : roads, we should all urbans, suburbanE : and rustics-be the gathers.