The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-01-16
Economic Features Of High
way Reform.
An Essay by Isaac Hardy.

G@a A1SSS~J ~
The following essay was prepared
by Mr.. Isaac Hardy, OF this city,
now a student at Union College,
Schenectady, n. Y, by whom it has
been furnished at our request, for
publication. The subject is one Of
great interest to all classes Of our
people:
1t has been truthfully said that the
improved condition of a countrys
highways and public thoroughfares is
an indication Its civilization.
We know from ancient history that
the Romans built and maintained ex-
pensiye and we'll made roads of con-
siderable !ength, which was undoubt-
edlysa great factor in making that NJ
ton one Of the greatest of It's time.
The many advantages which
country derives from good roads are
selfevident. No one can fail to see
the great benefits of such a reform,
both from financial and from
social standpoint.
While the United States are first
among the nations of the world in
their railroad facilities. yet they are
very far behind in the establishment
of good country highways. The
wonderful advancement of railroad
construction has doubtless had its
effect in calling attention away from
the necessity Of improvement IN the
country roads.
While railroad may take travel off
country roads that run parallel to 1t,
yet itincreases greatly the traffic on
the many wagon roads that cross its
line. When new railroad is built it
causes new towns to spring up and
enIarges the old ones, hence creating
a necessity for more roads and the
Improvement of the old ones which
lead to stations along it's route. The
idea that building railroads decreases
the use of wagon roads is very
erroneous one Every thing that is
transported by rail-either by freight
or passenger-has first TO be brought
to the railroad station, and in many
cases this is is done over miles Of
country roads. The railroad itself is
cause of the large increase in the
use of the country roads Where
there are no railroads near at hand
the people stay at home rather than
suffer the Inconvenience Of driving
over bad country roads, and they
produce very little to sell which has TO
Be carried very far or at much ex-
pense to find market. When a
farmer has railroad near at hand the
question of transportation becomes
one of minimum consideration. His
products are hauled over the country
road from his farm to the railroad ard
thus the latter becomes an important
factor in increasing the traffic on
country roads instead of decreasing
it as is sometimes supposed.
This country, therefore. has greater
use for improved highways than other
countries since she is 6tst in rail-
road progress.
We have only to look to the great
public thoroughfares of England,
France and Germany to see with
shame that they are far superior to
our own miserably kept roads. we
could we'll profit by following the ex-
ample of those countries, which can
point with pride to their beautiful
and we'll kept roads and rightly claim
that to them is due "a large portion of
their wealth and prosperity
That it is an advantage to to have
good roads none will deny, but many
do not see how it is practicable to
get them, or how they are to be pad
for. 1t is not the purpose of this dis
course to tell how to construct or
maintain good roads. That is Of
subsequent consideration, and could
easily and safely be left in the hands
of any civil engineer of ordinary
ability.
If it be proved that a system of
good country roads can be built and
maintained at saving in actual mon-
ey or its equivalent to the farmer,
transporter, manufacturer, merchant
and consumer, the object Of this
paper will be achieved
There are many other reasons why
we should have good roads, aside
from the economic standpoint
If that part of our population who
reside in the rurai districts had hard,
dry, Macadam or Telford roads to
drive ever instead of sand beds, mud
holes or some other kinds equally bad,
.L1.o ~r,o,,1d ho mroof t}ool moro