The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-04-08
THE FUTURE OF OUR ROADS.
interest In Their Improvement is
Rapidly Developing.

lerest IN American railways, is
rapidly increasing. 1: has been
pointed out that if the vacant farms
IRE to be reinhabited one factor in
their successful cultivation will 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 governors of quite
number of our states, vino have
asked their several legislatures to
make provision for better systems
If roadmaking, aud " Ia proposed
by Mr.. Clavpoole, a civil engineer
writing IN the Engineering Maga.
zine, that professional roadmaking
companies shall be organized, who
will contract for the construction
of highways, as contracts are now
taken for the building of railroads.
1t is evident that if the highways
in the rural districts are to be I'm
proved upon and made into useful
thoroughfares they must be con
structed by people who know how
to make them. At present the
working out of the highway tax by
individuals, or the transfer of this
duty to the town roadmaster, Is not
a method that amounts to anything
more than a system of costly re.
pairs. The rains of one season
wash away the roads that have been
repaired, and there is no wise
method employed IN their construc-
ton which limits the constant dam.
age of storms and floods. This
wasteful system has gone as far as
it ought to. The plan now more in
vogue is to place the roadmaking in
the hands of the state or the county.
and to have highways laid out with
reference to the convenience of the
l largest number of the people. 1t
appears impo, sible 80 secure proper
roads in the sparsely settled towns
in any other wav, and If good wagon
thoroughfares are desired between
important localities 1t is no more
than right that the more important
towns should contribute largely fol
their construction.
1t has been demonstrated thai
the roads which cost the most arc
: usually the cheapest, because theF,
is very little expense required fol
them after their first cost has beer
j met. Unquestionably the country
!, is prepared to put its wagon roads
, IN a better condition, and people
, who look at agricultural interests
, and the development of the large
, towns are regarding the wagon roads
: in a different light from what the,
, once did. The present pope, wher
bishop Of Perugia, began his ad
!, ministration of the church by map
ping out system of road improve
ment for the whole province, and /
was by these improvements that h
first became known as an organize
I that the Church of Rome coult
e justly place in Its highest office
7 He was not content to build singl
treat road, but he united one roat
: with another, so that the Who'll
e province was infused with new life
e The French and the Swiss are tn
G great European masters OF high
: ways. In Switzerland the peopl
y have made their fortunes by provld
: ing good common roads for tn
: tourists of the world, and in France
+, where the best wagon roads in tn
: world arc to be found, ever sine
g Napoleon organized a method @
!, roadbuilding, the government ha
o kept control Of this public servic
i and managed 1t IN such way tha
, the rural people of France hav
: been able to take their products
d however perishable, cheaply an
n quickly to market, and make tn
:. most of their industries.
Larger ideas should prevail j
. the making Ct our wagon roads
and, as a near and forcible illustr,
ton of the value Of good wago
roads in the Development Of prol
erty, we refer to the highways |
Brook kline and IN the towns alon
II the North SLoro. Wherever th
il highways have been thoroughly in
/. proved the property mas rapidly ii
:, creased in value, and has been pul
chased by those who have built II
the community IN which they hay
decided to live. The two grea
principles which affect the buildIn
l. of wagon roads are business an
= pleasure. The first necessity
g that good roads shall bring neigh
i borhoods close together and tn
producer within easy access to hi
a market, and TIE second Is that tn
: people in towns and cities shall b
g able to use the highways for socis
and family driving. Wherever i