Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1894-01-27
GOOD ROADS.
DISCUSSING THE PROBLEM OF
BETTER HIGHWAYS.
Economy Of Good Roads shown by
Europe-Should the National
Government Undertake tho
Work-Cost Per Mile.

dition to the good roads already
possessed by this country, in or
der that system equal TO the !
best in Europe may be had, it would
be necessary TO build or rebuild atout
one million miles. reasonable ssti
| mate OF the cost of which is $1,000
mile, or 2400, 900, 900 for the whole
| country. Enormous as must be the
cost of constructing a system OF first
class highways, II 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, 14,976,0 OH
horses, 2,246, 936 mules and 4o,1o9
asses. A prominent authority gives
twenty-five cents day ms his estimate
of the cost Of feed for each animal.
Taking this as basis the expense, OF
feeding this vast number for single
1
more thnn 81, SIG. OOn, 900 in one year.
1t is said that on the smooth stone
roads of certain European countries
dog can move q heavier load than is
drawn On an average in this country
by a horse, and that . horse there
pulls easily three times rs heavy loads
as equally good American animals
move with difficulty. 4 conclusion
which many, no doubt will draw from
this is that about onc-third ofthe pres
ent number Of horses would give bet
ter service with first class wagon roads
than Is cow enjoyed. However, in
view of the fact that considerable
share of these animals is owned in the
| cities, where there are more or less OF
good pavements, the number could be
reduced only one-half instead of two
thirds. This would mean a lessening
Of the feed expense Of 27ss, 900, 900 a
year.
The average earnings of capital in
the United States are about three per
! cent. OR.this basis the unnecessary
expense of S7ss, 900, 900 in maintain.
ing what would. with good roads. he
surplus stock, represents the interest
} on an average investment of more than
S26, 900, 900, 900. This is more. than
six times the investment required for
the building of ! 900, 900 miles of good
stone roads at cost of $4,000 a mile.
1t is inconceivable tomany how the
idea can be entertained for Il moment
that the construction and maintenance
OF highways can be safely intrustei 10
Individuals or private corporations for
gain. Only little i'll advance of this,
1t is declared, however. is the so-callcd
subdistrict rond sr1ervisor system
County control, as r. rule, shows still
O marked Improvement. over the two
. plans named, anl wherever the State,
, (, have entered into the field Of roat
building with effective legislation an
, even greater improvement IS noted.
Bnt o. all roads ever constructei il
the United States those which tn.
National Government has built un
. auesticnnbly are OF have been tb.
, | best
( striking illustration OF the com.
/. parative merits Of National and lora
\ management Of public roads is to b.
found IN Germany The best roads o
y that country were built bv the State
4 which now constitute the Empir
wniie they were vet independent king
doms. and sEev wer0 Thus The creation
OF National Governments. Absorhe,
into the Enpire, the States we're n
longer distinct Nations What ha
been National before TO them nos
sunk 70 the rank os the ,.rovincial
The roais had been constantly iu
proved. previous u the .o-ma,ion c
the Empire. Now Zarroxer al
cheaper roads are naiI;. and the nigh
: WAYS ot :he Fasherland, excellent a
they are, do no. compare .avorabl
p With ,hose of F-a-c., over uh,e
. National authority IS exercised.
Cct.l recently the inhabitants {
cities * Ibis eou1s.r have general
REGARDED tie building .. count.
= roads a. a. undertaking xh.eh b.
: locged 70 the farmer alone. the e.
pense of which he sLouId bear. {
late, through natural causes aud II
general agi;aiion ot ;ha question,
= better understanding h-s been Teaches
- The s1md biocksei-s IL The various 50.
tiyns 81 the country IL ;h. last fe