New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-17
BETTER ROADS DEMANDED.
SENATOR MANDERsCN'S BILL CREATING A
COMMISSION.

GINNING AN IMPORTANT MovEMENT-TIE
PRESENT SYSTEM OF CONSTRUCTION
RELIc-INTERvIEws WITH EX-
PERTs-sTATE AID AN IN
PoRTANr REQUISITE.
A bill was introduced In the Senate on July 5 by
Senator Henderson, OF Nebraska. TO create Ma
tonal highway commission, and prescribe Its duties
The bill was referred to the Committee on Interstate
Commerce and is now pending before them. 1t pro
v1des for large commission. composed of members OF
ronpress citizens an associate number from each
state that may appoint one and also the secretaries
Of War Agriculture and the Interior. the Attorney
General and the PostmasterGeneral or their repre-
sentatives 1t is to exist for two years. and to hold
It's meetings at Washington during sessions of Con
rress. and at Chicago during the Worlds Fair. The
commissions duties are 70 formulate plans for "a
National school OF roads and bridges. with branches
attached 70 the various agricultural colleges and ex-
pertinent stations" to consider the establishment In
connection with this school Of military or post-roads
IN some sections Of the country to report on what the
United states has already done In the OF highway
construction and to make recommendations as to
such roads as may still be under National ownership;
TO collect and disseminate Information on the subject
In general to procure the exhibition at the WoIWs
Fair OF oad-makng appliances and az
ford free instruction In the art for all
there who desire it; to colste the various State laws
teal workings and suggestions as TO their modihca-
ton: 70 INQUIRE and report whether form Of Ma
tonal aid is desirable. more particularly coopera-
ton between Nation state and county In a general
system OF construction, based upon mutual agreement
O. 10 need and character of work. Joint supervision OF
its execution and the of their joint credit to
secure the money on favorable terms. The Com
mission is also TO investigate the practicabiity OF
employing convicts upon the roads and OF regulating
the construction Of vehicles for the better preserva-
ton of roed surfaces: and. finally. to report what
State and National legislation constitutional amend
nents are necessary, together with any other sug-
gestiOns recommendations concerning the suplect
that II fit to make
THE BEGINNING OBJ AN IMPORTANT MOVEMENT.
The bill is entirely educational in character. and
merely provides for thorough investigation OF the
whole subject OF road improvement. and yet 1t must
be looked upon as the beginning Of o very important
movement. That the vast majority OF our roads are
not all they should be- indeed, that they are almost
everything they should not be, is thing that any one
who has seen them must know. The henderson bill
Ia intended full Information as to what should
be done toward improving them, and how much it
would cost to do it. 1t is only a STEP but 1t Is
long one and In the right direction. and the Dill
appears to meet with universal approval. particularly
ps to It's main features.
General Horace Porter said concerning 1t:
"The appointment Of such commission COM
,rsnds tself TO me very highly, and I think the
method here proposed would bring together as repre-
sentative a set of men as could be CHOSEN. nave
no doubt that the results OF their labors would be
exceedingly valuable and Congress should be guided
largely by any positive recommendations which the
Commission might make. France has School Oh
Roads and Bridges similar 10 the one suggested In
this BILL and having charge OF the construction OF
HIGHWAYS do not think that, without STATE
governments we can have our roads built and main
tained ny the Government at Washington, but any
scheme that would lead to uniformity OF method
Throughout the States would be Of great advantage
Now that railroads multiplying 80 rapidly ana
can be built so cheaply. the question Of highways
is Lot quite so important As II was half century
ngo but il Is still very serious one In many
sections Of the country
NEED OF EDUCATION on TIE SUBJECT.
"There are few cases in which more ignorance and
stupidity displayed than In the construction OF our
horntry roads. order to reduce the first cost they
are usually built in such nlmsy and unsubstantiai
manner that they have be practically rebuilt every
few years and the cost Is, In the end. enormous
Whether OF not National School of Roads need De
established for the purpose OF giving students tech-
pical instruction In this branch of engineering is
matter upon which there will be much diversity OF
n,s,,on o1lr civil engineers possess rare degree
OF scientific attainment. and perhaps Nauohai
Board OF Cdvn Engineers. selected from among liie
most eminent men in that profession could best dec'oe
upon the manner Of treating our highway ana
hri
one ought 10 favor the BILL and await the report OF
the Commission proposed before forming any de1oed
views"
Isaac B. Potter, secretary OF the New-forK ola'e
Road Improvenelt Association and editor OF "Good
Roads a monthly magazine devoted TO road improve
nent also favors senator MandeIsons BILL
Il think It IS 4 very excellent one" sau he
atbougb am not in favor OF all The plans 1t mentions
for Investigation. have been studying road improve
mt for the last eight years and am In correspondence
with people all the country who are interested III
the subject There is nothing IN the bill that CANS
for krge expenditure and there Is much IN II 'na'
would be beneficial. The great difhculty ABOUT inc
matter is not that people cannot see that Improvements
q, needed but that they do not know how 10 set TO
work 10 get the improvement, nor what leeisia"oh
IS necessary This, therefore, would be an eAceeht
0pportunity for such commission As the Dill suggests
THE PRESENT SYSTEM RELIC OF FEUDAL TINES
Our present system OF road building is essentially
the same as that OF England and France centuries bach
In feud al times They have charged and are chan ging
wear by year. while are standing STILL As TO me
regulation OF wagon construction, II would be great
step IN the right direction. The difference 10 erect
upon a road surface between wide tire and narrow
one Is the same as that between roller and JACK
knife The present rule In England Is one Inch OF tire
for each 800 pounds OF load. OF course 1t would be
great hardship II such law were passed Immediately
lint il might be drawn TO take effect some years
hence.
AS whole, the bill IS a very sOoo one At H"' 10
no one and benefits all the states. The day Of good
roads in this country IS certainly coming ana coming
soon"
STATE LEGISLATIVE AID NEEDED.
Evan Thomas. the president OF the Produce Eek
change, said la discussing the proposed measure
There IS nothing that so civilizes country or
that adds so much TO Its wealth as good ROADS
Senator Henderson is good, levelheaded man, ana
hope that by this bill he can get at the trouble
IL seems 20 me that persistent effort should be
-Ia., andn ci iLnm