The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1895-06-06
The Oflcial Paper Of San Juan County
A.J.PAXSON, Editor and Prop.
THURSDAY, JUNE 9Th 1925.
STATE ROADS IN MASSACHUSETTS.
To THE EDITOR ISLANDER

the Uuited States has so thoroughly
discussed the different advantages OF
good roads, and SC universally endorsed
this reform, that all classes OF our citi-
zens appreciate the necessity OF, ana
are anxious for, the immediate adoptl-
on of such laws as will hasten the con-
struction of State highways.
Massachusetts has from the outset
taken the lead in this matter, and the
shirt of her legislature has been shown
bv making the Highway Commission a
permanent one, and by appropriatlng
$500. 900 to be expended, under the I'M
mediate supervision of the Commission,
in constructing new and rebuilding OLD
roads.
AS q natural result Of the popular
agitation and the monster petition,
which I had the honor to present to
Congress in 1898, the United States re-
cooniZed the necessity OF move III
this direction, and under the "Agricu-
ltural Bili' made a special appropriate
on of $4,000 to meet the expense OF a
careful investigation into the condition
of roads throughout the country, and
for the publication of such information
as would assist the people in lettering
their highways. The Department OF
Agriculture has issued a number of
bulletins, and it is gratifying to learn
that more than a score of states have
already passed new road laws, while
nearly all the others are planning for
the adoption of measures for the pro-
motion of this reform. Experience hes
shown that the course pursued by
Massachusetts, is the one which com
mends itself most stronglp, both to the
people at large and to their legal repre-
sentatives, the various State Legislatu-
res, and it is natural to suppose that if
all were familiar with the work here
the knowledge would be utilized to
bring about similar legislation where
yer the method of procedure is still I'M
settled. For this reason [ would call
to your attention and urge upon you
the ACCESSIBILITY of enlightening your
readers on the good work we have al
ready accomplished.
Starting in June, 1892, Temporary
Commission was appointed to examine
into the condition of the roads, and to
draft bill providing for the improve
ment of the highways Of the Common
wealth. The law suggested by the
Commission was, with some changes,
passed in June, 1898, but, before any
petitions for construction of State high
WAYS were submitted to the General
Court, an act was introduced and pass
ed June 20, 1894, increasing the powers
of the Commission, and permitting the
Selectmen of any town, or the Mayor
and Aldermen of any city, as well as
County Commissioners, to petition the
Highway Commission for taking roads
as State highways. In place of SUBJ
hitting to the legislature a separate
bill Tor the construction Of each road, it
was voted that the appropriation be
used by the Highway Commission,
without further legislation, in building
State highways.
The $4,000 has been pretty evenly
divided among fourteen counties. Be-
fore deciding which of the many petit
ions should be granted an official visit
was paid to each locality, and full in
formation as to the value of the propo-
sed improvement collected. While this
method has distributed the work in
small sections of roads, thus increasing
the expense per mile, the advantage to
the people at large will be greater, for
the reason that each portion Of the
State highway constructed is intended
to be an object lesson to those living
near by. County COMMISSIONS and
other officials will watch the work as it
progresses, and follow ont the same
lines in building county and other
roads which are not intended for State
highways.
The plan is to build, section by secti-
on, such roads as will connect the great
centers Of trade, and join with through
roads in other States, so that local and
interstate communication will be bene-
flied. Under date of January, 1895,
the Massachusetts Highway Commits
sion has rendered report which covers
the work of the past year, and this pu-
blication should be consulted by those
who are considering legislation.
The provisions of our law will permit
contracts for the construction to be let
to municipalities or to private corpor-
ations, but the former arrangement is
preferred, as it is more effeetual in
teaching the people the art of road
building, and protects the State against
cheapening the work by the importat-
ion of foreign laborers, an element
which is apt to be Objectionable.
A resident engineer is appointed by
the Commission, and it is his duty to
be in attendance, and keep a correct
account of all items to be paid for by
the State.
Wherever the traffic is in proportions
to warrrnt it the roads have been broad