The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-04-15
MOVEMENT FOR BETTER ROADS
1t Began in New Jersey But Has Ex-
tenped in All Directions.

improvement has probably attained
greater proportions in New Jersey
than in any other state OF the
Union. In speaking of it the New
York Times saws:
"The movement for improved
roads began in Union county, N. j..
under tho influence of DR.. Chauncey
B. Ripley. of West field. DR.. Ripley
has worked twenty five years toward
the attainment of this important
project, and he is said to have ex-
pended 800, 900 in objects lessons
for improved roads. The move
mcnt thus begun has spread rapidly
and UuioW oountv % iav- has i'm
proved roads from Elizabeth, the
county seat, extending in all direc-
tions. The experiment. If it may
he so called, has been most sue.
cessful one. and the science Of
MAINTAINING and equipping these
roads is gradually being perfected.
One OF the most significant out
growths of the improved road pro-
Ject Is the hearty sympathy accord
ed it in the New Jersey state legis.
lature. Fortunately the friends of
the project were enabled to secure
the enthusiastic interest of the men,
bers of the legislature irrespective
of political influence. and being
thus freed from what SO frequently
embarrasses and impedes legislative
cooperation the improved road pro-
ject was Endorsed bv all the state
authorities. Governor Albeit is
one of the most hearty supporters
of the system.
The movement has by no means
been restricted to New Jersey. On
the contrary, a widespread interest
has been developed IN nearly every
state in the Union. as is evidenced
bv the recommendations made in
the annual messages of the govern
ers of several states advocating i'm
proved roads throughout all parts
of their commonwealths. Governor
Mckinley, of Ohio, in his message,
referred to the improved road idea
as a necessary part of the benefits
that might be secured to all classes
and particularly to the farmers.
Governor Beaver. of Pennsylvania,
indorsed the project in two annual
messages, as have also Governors
Albeit. Hill and Bulkeley.
The last and by far the most i'm
portant move in the direction of
improved roads is the interest man.
ifested by the general government.
A few months ago letters were sent
from the department of state to
every American consul all over the
globe instructlng each one to lnves-
iigate the history and methods of
the system of roads employed in the
country IN which they were situated 4.
and to make report on the subject
to the department of state. The
consuls responded in a way that
has given great satisfaction to every
friend of the improved road idea.
Their reports have been carefully
arranged by the department and
bound in a volume of 400 pages,
forming the finest encyclopedia OF
roads that has ever been compiled.
1t may be had upon application at
the state department.
Among the countries that have
contributed chapters to tins inter.
esting volume are Australia. the
Fiji Islands, Philippine Islands,
japan, Cevlon, China, the West
Indies and South America. The
information obtained from these
countries consists of answers to a
number Of carefully prepared ques-
tions which cover the subject in its
most comprehensive form.
1t is noticeable that the roads
throughout Europe are far superior
to those in the United States; in
deed, gentleman was heard to say
yesterday that nothing struck him
so forclbly IN his travels on the
continent as the superiority Of the
roads. He explained that the rea.
son for this advanced movement is
due to the fact that the countries
in which he Travelled have a ciyili-
zaton extending back thousand
years. while that Of the United
States embraces but a hundred.
One of the most important state
ments made in the report in qucs-
ton is the marked increase i'm the
value Of agricultural land situated
on the improved roads II is cstI-
mated that farm property thus ben
Gifted increases in value from 9 to
10 per cent, which is surely sufli-
cient commentator to establish
the necessity for cooperation in
the movement that has been started
in New Jersey. One frequently
hears it said that history furnishes
no instance of the rapid recovery of
n countrv from iofu rhancn On panid