The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-05-23
The Condition of the Main
ThJroughfares.
They Are in Various States Of Making
and Keeping.
What the Highway Committee Re-
ported to the General Assembly.

The highway committee, in its examiD-
alton of the principal highways, found
considerable variation in the condition
of the roads in different portions OF the
State but found very little to
commend. Their condition was af-
fected both by the topography and
nature OF the soil OF the locality and by
faulty methods and lack OF enterprise and
liberality OF the towns in which the roads
lay. There Is, however, scarcely any sec
tion of the State in which there is not
room fer great deal OF improvement in
the roads and in the methods used in con-
struction and repairs.
Throughout the western portion OF the
State the typographical features add
greatly to the difficulties to be encountered
by the road builder. Many of the present
highways traverse hills entirely too steep
for the economical hauling OF loads,
and in a number of instances they
are unsafe even for those riding in
light carriages. This portion OF the
State being practically a succession OF hills
and valleys calls for good deal of skill
and Judgment In laying out Of new roads
and in the Encouragement of the align
ment of some OF the present ones, to avoid
the steep D grades wich make them practi-
cally useless to the drivers of heavily or
even moderately loaded wagons.
On the "old New London turnpike"
one of the main roads in the western part
"a h. GNot. nEuI Qfn
hills, so steep, in fact, that in order
to market wood, the chief product
of that section, it Is customary for the
drivers of two wagons to keep together,
and, on reaching the steep inclines, To
attach all the horses to one wagon an d
draw it to the top OF the incline, and then
to return for the second.
The northern, eastern and southern por-
tions OF the State, although by no means
level, have not SO much to complain oi
In the way OF steep grades in their high
ways. On the island of Rhode Island,
however, on what is known as the West
Road, Is to be found one OF the worst hills
In the State.
1t is believed by your committee that
the majority OF these extremely steer
grades could be avoided where the use oil
tho road makes it worth while to do SO
by relocation of the highway, and tha,
the expense of such relocation would
be more than repaid by the saving in tn,
cost of hauling.
From . study of the table, which ac'
companies this report, showing tn,
amount exended by the various towns fol
the construction and maintenance OF
highways, 1t will be seen that 1t Is I'm
possible for many of the towns to hav,
better roads unless they appropriate NOR,
money for that purpose. There are z towns
In the State whose annual appropriation
for Highways amounts to less than $40 pei
mile. There are twelve towns whose an
nual appropriation is between $40 and sl0'
per mile. 1t will Of course readily b,
undsrstood that these amounts are alto
gsther too small to enable town to builc
snd maintain even passably good roads
The more wealthy and prosperous towns
Of the State have already made good prog
rsss In better road building, but II
many cases these improved roads are no
~ productive OF good results as the,
otherwise would be on account OF tn,
poe, condition Oft the highways In adjoin
ing towns which fail to build and main
tain proper roads. In such cases, Il
wsuid seem to be wise II the State coulc
step in and aid in the building Of suci
highways to the extent which the com
mittss recommends in this report, and il
would be not only to the advantage o.
the towns In which the roads lilo anc
which have not put them in good con
ditiop, bat also to the inhabitants of ad
Joining towns, where much has been
already spent In this direction.
The committee also observed that IN
many instances, those who had charge oi
the repairs and construction of highway,
were not exercising the best judgment
In their work; and it seemed to tn,
committee that even the small amounts
expended could in many cases be usec
to much better advantage than they APP
psared to be. One great reason for the
poor construction OF roads seemed, to tn,
committse,to be the ub-division OF many
towns into numerous highway districts
each having its highway surveyor, who
manages the district after his own ideas
without supervision or instruction from
spy more competent person. In seventeen
towns in the Stste, there is total OF lO1I
miles Of highway, divided into AL high
way districts of about 2 1-3 miles, eac
having It's independent surveyor, entirely
uncontrolled in most cases by any super
intendept or commissioner, and conduct
ing the repairs and road building
in bis own way without regard 4
previous experience or training. There can