Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-12-08
RAILROADS AND WAGON ROADS.
The Improvement of the One Means the
Prosperity of the other.

Prosperity III inc Oth'As
The subject Of good roads and how
TO secure them il one that is deserving
of all the attention and agitation that II
has of late received in this country,
where the need Of the article is most Dis
agreeably apparent in whatever part OF
the country one may travel. Among
those gentlemen who have manifested
deep interest in the matter, and VINO
have contributed freely Of their means,
with a view to remedying the eVll ana
bringing about the improvement 50 ear
nestly desired, stands Colonel A. A..
Pope. of the Pope Manufacturing com
pany, of Boston, who has long been I'M
firing in his able efforts in this dlrec-
ton. One of his most recent moves III
the premises has been to send TO the
presidents of different railroads through
out the country letters urging the estab-
lishment of '.road department by
each company, for the purpose of aiding
in promoting the Improvement of the
common roads Of the country. A copy
of the letter appears below:
DEAR SIR-Permit me to urge upon
your attention the great Importance OF
good roads as feeders to railroads.
Throughout the United States the con-
dition of the common country roads is
the index 10 the prosperity Of railroads.
When highways are impossible freight
and passenger earnings are necessarily
diminished and the price of railroad
securities lowered. When the roads
are in good condition merchandise is ac-
cumulated at the depots. and in moving
il trains are DELAYED and accidents in
creased A uniform good condition of
roads would enable railroads to handle
freight more expeditiously.
Good roads are the means by which
country is built up populously and pros
perously, Bad roads delay civilization
and cause districts to be sparsely settled,
and poverty and ignorance to abound.
The railroad companies of this country,
representing millions Of employees and
billions Of capital, and controlled and
directed by men of high intelligence,
have commanding influence in every
legislative hall in the United States.
Every railway corporation can request
its officers, agents and employees to do
what they can to create right senti-
ment in regard to the improvement of
highways in their respective neighbor-
hoods, and all along the various lines
depot masters and freight agents could
report to a road department, established
by the company, the conditions of the
roads in their towns and what is being
done to improve them. These depot
masters could be furnished from time to
time with pamphlets containing instruc.
tons for the construction and mainte.
nance Of highways, for distribution TO
persons doing business at their stations,
and thus educate them how to build bet
ter roads. az well as teach them that
better highways effect saving in trans
portation. ANY railroad running through /
a territory having good roads must have !
a great advantage over competing line
with poor reads from its stations.
The executive officers of a railroad |
corporation can instruct representatives |
in congress On the Importance Of better
so that favorable legislation |
may be secured. Newspapers to whom /
railroad companies extend their patron.
age might be requested to devote space
to agitate this matter The building up
Of suburban districts, which is Of such 4
a profitable character to railroads, is
first brought about by those who wish
10 sell land. Aside from the material
advantages that may accrue TO rail
road by its aiding in the work Of agitat-
ing the subject, there is to be considered
-he broader question Of the great beae.
its that might be conferred upon the en-.
ire community.
viii you not aid this great movement,
which is of so much national importance?
There will be sent to you memorial to
on the subject of roads, which
contains the opinions Of the following
Presidents of railroads: Stuyvesant Fish,
illinois Central railroad; NJ Z. ingalls,,
Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and st.
4ouis railway; 9. J. Ives, Burlington.
cedar Rapids and Northern railway; w.
:. Van Horne. Canadian Pacific railway,
md many others.-New York Recorder.