The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1894-01-10
GOOD ROADS.
DISCUSSING THE PROBLEM OF
BETTER HIGHWAYS.
Economy of Good Roads Shown by
Europe should the National
Government Undertake the
worI-Cost Per Mile.


enc million miles, n reasonable esti.
mate of the co.t of which is $4,000 n
mile, or SiOO, 900. 900 for tho whole
country. Enormous ms must be the
cost of constructing n system of first
class highways, it would appear that,
in their present deplorable condition,
the roads are expensive almost be.
yond comparison. According TO the
census bureau, there were in the
country June /, 1890, 14,97G, OF
horses, 2,2iG, 1876 mules and 40, 100
asses. A prominent authority gives
twenty-five cents n day MS his estimate
of the cost % feed for each animal.
Taking this ms basis the expense of
feeding this vas. number for single
day aggregates over si,3ls, 600 or
more than 81, ,57G. 900, 900 in one year
IL is said that on the smooth stone
roads of certain European countries
dog can move heavier load than is
drawn on an average in this country
by horse, and that horse there
pulls easily three times as heavy loads
MS equally good American animals
which many, no doubt, will draw from
this is that about one-third of the pres
cnt number of horses would give bet
ter service with FIRST -class wagon roads
than is now enjoyed. However, in
view of the fact that n considerable
share OF these animals is owned in the
cities, where there are more or less of
srnn1 Ia.
reduced only onc-half instead of two
thirds. This would mean lessening
of the feed expense of S78S, 900, ,0G0 IL
year.
The average earnings of capital in
the United States are about three per
cent On this basis the unnecessary
expense OF S'Ss, ooo, ooo IN maintain
ing What would with good roads, be
surplus STOCK, represents the interest
on an average investment OF more than
S-o,ooo'oov'ooo' Ihis Is more than
SIX times tine Investment required Tor
'ne puiiuing Oh i'ooo'ooo miles ofgood
stone roads at cost OF Siooo n mile.
1t is inconceivable to many how the
iaea can be entertained Tor moment
'nat tne construction and maintenance
OF highways can be safely intrusted to
ihoiViuua,s or private corporations Tor
gam ohly iittie In advance OF TINS,
IL IL declared, however, Is the so-called
supdistrict road supervisor system
county control, rs rule, shows still
marked Improvement over the two
P'ans named, and wherever the States
nave entered INTO the held OF road
Duiidihg with effective legislation an
even greater Improvement Is noted.
but OF al roads ever constructed in
,ne United states those which the
Natiohai Government has built I'M
uuestionaoiy are or have been the
pest'
A striking illustration of the com
parative merits of National and local
management of public roads is to be
found in Germany. The best roads of
that country were built by the States
which now constitute the Empire
while they were yet Independent king
doms, and they were thus the creations
OF National Governments. Absorbed
into the Empire, the States were no
longer distinct Nations. What had
been National before to them now
sunk to the rank of the provincial.
The roads had been constantly i'm.
proved previous to tho formation of
the Empire. Now narrower and
cheaper -onds are built, and the high
ways OF the fatherland, excellent as
tney are 40 not compare favoraDly
win those OF FRANCE over which
National authority is exercised.
ohtii recently the inhabitants OF
cities IN TINS country have generally
regarded the building OF country
roads as an undertaking which be-
longed to the farmer alone, the ex-
pense OF which he should bear. Or
late' through natural causes and the
general agitation OF the question,
better b, understanding has been reached.
The mud blockades in the various sec
tlonS OF the country in the last few