The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-07-16
STATE ROADS IN MAsSACHU-
SETS.


For the past three years the press OF
the United States has SO thorousnly
discussed the different advantages Oh
pood roads. and so universally endorsed
this reform. that all classes OF our clCl
zens appreciate the necessity or ana
are anxious for, the immediate adop-
tion of s1ch laws as will hasten the
construction of State highways.
Massachusetts, has from the outset
taken the lead in this matter and the
spirit of her Legislature has been shown
by making the Highway Commission
a permanent one, and b. appropriating
$500, OOO to be expended, under the inn
mediate supervision of the Commission,
in constructing new and rebuilding old
roads.
AS anatural result of the popular agi-
tation and the monster petition which
/ had the honor to present to Congress
in 1893, the United States recognized
the necessity of a nov in this direc-
ton, and under the agricultural Bill, "
made a special appropriation OF $1O,-
900 to meet the expense of a careful in
vestigation 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 has shown that the course
pursued by Massachusetts, is the one
which commends itself most strongly,
both to the people at large and to their
legal representatives, the various State
legislatures, 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
wherever the method of procedure is
still unsettled. For this reason 1 would
call your attention and urge upon you
the advisability of enlightening your
readers on the good work we have
already accomplished.
Starting in June, 1892, a Temporary
Commission was appointed examine
into the condition of the roads, and to
draft a 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, 1893, but, before any
petitions for construction of State
highways were submitted to the Gen
eral Court, an act was introduced and
passed June 20, 1894, increasing the
powers of the Commission, and permit
ting the Selectmen of any town, OF the
Mayor and Aldermen of any city, as
we'll as County Commissioners, to petit
ton the Highway Commission for tax
ing roads as State highways. In place
of submitting to the Legislature a sep
arate bill for the construction of each
road, it was voted that the appropria-
ton to be used by the Highway Com
mission, without further legislation, in
building State highways.
The $500, 900 dollars has been pretty
evenly divided among fourteen coun-
ties. Before deciding which of the
many petitions should be granted, an
official visit was paid to each locality,
and full information as to the value of
the proposed improvement collected.
While this method has distributed the
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 construct
ed is intended to be an object lesson to
those living near by. County Commits
sioners and other officials will watch
the work as it progresses, and follow
out the same lines in building county
and other roads which are not intended
for State highways.
The plan is to build, section by sec
zion, such roads as will connect the
%Teat centers of trade, and join with
through roads in other States, so that
both local and interstate communica-
ton will be benefited. Under date of
January, 1895, the Massachusetts High
way Commission has rendered a report
which covers the work of the past year,
and this publication should be consult
ed by those who are considering legis
iation.
The provisions of our law will permit
contracts for the construction to be let
to municipalities or to private corpora