The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1895-01-10
ROADS GOOD AND BAr.

progressive, WlueaWaAe ana ingenious
nation is well founded, what can be
urged to excuse US for adhering to the an
tiquated and inefficient methods of max
ing and keeping our common roads when
We have before us the great economy
and splendid results produced by the
adoption of more intelligent methods in
other countries? In many respects we
have greater need of hard surfaced roads
than has either France or England Our
rainfall is considerably heavier than
theirs, and our dirt roads for weeks at a
time are half as deep as they are wide
Farm traffic is suspended and horses are
kept in idleness.
Official statistics show that there are
something over 10000 horses and
mules on the farms of the United States,
and at moderate estimate of twenty
FIVE cents per day as the cost of feed for
each animal, We see that it costs the
farmers of this country about $4,000, 900
per day for this item alone. Less than
so per cent. Of these animals would be
sufficient to do all the hauling of farm
produce carried on in this country if
even the main roads were put in first
class condition: but, not to hope too
strongly for the attainment Of distant
things. let US suppose that such an i'm
provement be projected as would render
unnecessary only one-eighth of the total
nun Der of draft animals now employed.
This would reduce the entire number
by little over 1000, 900, and would eff
feet saving each day of about 1900
tons of hay and 10000 bushels of oats,
which, reduced to money value. equals
$500, 900 per day. or about $40, 000. 900
per year. Add to this the value of the
animals, $40, 600. and we have d
total S254. 000. 900 saved for the first year
Of course these figures do not represent
the real loss entailed to our farmers by
the use of dirt roads. That loss is be-
the computation is directed and wherever
the loss is susceptible of calculation, the
same startling eXki bit is bound to appear.
A recent careful count shows over 800
abandoned farms in the fertile and popu-
lous state of New Jersey.
La 1919. while the question of i'm
proved roads was occupying the atten-
ton of parliament about in the same
manner that it attracts the attention of
the legislative bodies Of the United
States today, Telford appeared before
the parliamenta committee On roads
and highways and gave graphic testi-
mony of the condition CT the British
roads of that period. The interest then
awakened grew from year to year till
1885, when parliament passed the gen.
eral highway act. and from that date
began the systematic and intelligent
management to which the superior quail
ity of the English roads is now princi
pa1ly due.
But England is by no means alone in
her possession of good roads. The Roman
legacy has in late years multiplied its
value, and in nearly all the countries Of
Europe systems of high class roads are
maintained. In Ireland they add not a
little to the delights of the picturesque
KILLARNEY district and are everywhere
found by the tourist and traveller who
visit that beautiful country. In France
YOU may drive from Paris to Orleans, to
Bourges. to Nevers and across the Jura
mountains into Switzerland. You may
Journey through Switzerland, beholding
all her marvels of scenery, and you may
continue on into Germany and follow
the Rhine and its valley Of legends till
YOU reach the shoals of the North sea.
You may vary this journey in what
ever way vour inclination may urge; you
may travti The roads CT Scotland, Italy.
austria, Belgium. BADEN, Spain or Scan
e.inavia and you viii everywhere find
nat the public hand has been industrl-
.usIy directed to the Care and keeping Of
ne common roads. Each Of these coGn-
ries has established within its civil gov
-nment a ti+s,ar cI.ieIt having exclusive
.0utrol CT the more important highways.
ud in most cases also supervisory man
cement of the PARIS. and branch roads
hitch connect be smaller towns and
erye as feeders to the main lines. Vary
&c. Of course. to some degree as to de-
is of management. there Is still a
ractical unanimity among the great ma
OBS Of Europe in this policy Of govern
.ental control.
1t began with the popular recognition
ftwo facts: IL That the public road.
.Ae the public postoface and the court
house, is public property. established by
aw n the use Of ali people: and CD that
he extravagant waste of time. labor and
,rouerty which had been for centuries
..apo-ed by the rse Of mud roads could
only be checked and the true resources
of the country broaght out by the con-
struction and maintenance OF good roads
under an intelligent head This was the
doctrine of Tresagnet and of his Englisn
disciples. Telford and Macadam. and
events have verified it.
An exhaustive examination by the
writer of reports and statistics collected
in twenty-three separate European states
shows that il each case the quality and
condition of the public roads are raised
or lowered in about the same measure
that the general government bestows or
withholds its official direction. Witness
the splendid results in France. From
the work of the Romans Tresagnet
|. armed that the road was a structure;
that it should have foundation: and.
adding to that the light of later know
ledge. he built hundreds of miles OF bet
ter roads than the Romans ever knew.
The spirit of this reform took hold upon
the government, and today France has
about 100. 600 miles OF ''macadamlzed
roads.