The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-05-22
MR.. POpE'S GREAT WORK.
Fruits Of His Lcng Fight for Better Roads.

Fruits Of His Leng Fight for Better Roads.
Editors Mtelligencer For the past
three years the press of the United
States has so thoroughly discussed the
different advantages Of good roads,
and so universally endorsed this re-
form, that all classes Of our citizens
appreciate the necessity of, and are
anxious for, the immediate adoption
Of such laws as will hasten the con-
struction Of State highways.
Massachusetts has from the outset
taken lead in this matter, and the
spirit of her Legislature has been
shown by making the Highway Com
mission a permanent one, and by ap-
propriating 100000 to be expended,
under the immediate supervision Of
the Commission, in constructing new
and rebuilding old roads.
AS natural result Of the popular
agitation and the monster petition
which I had the honor to present to
Congress in 1893, the United States
recognized the necessity Of move in
this direction, and under the "Agri-
cultural Bill" made a special appro-
priation of $4,000 to meet thc *
pense of careful investigation INTO
the condition of roads throughout the
country, and for the publication of
such information as would assist the
people in bettering their highways.
The Department Of Agriculture has
issued number of bulletins, and it
is gratifying to learn that more than
q score of States have already passed
new road laws, while nearly all the
others are planning for the adoption
of measures for the promotion 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 il all were
familiar with the work here the knowl-
edge would be utilized to bring about
similar legislation wherever the meth
cd of procedure is still unsettled. For
this reason I would call to your atten-
tion and urge upon you the advisable
ity Of enlightening your readers on
the good work we have already accom-
plished.
Starting in June, 1892, Temporary
Commission was appointed to examine
into the condition of the roads, and
to draft bill providing for the i'm
provement of the highways of the
Commonwealth. 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 General Court, an Act was intro
duced and passed June 20, 1894, in
creasing the powers Of the Commits.
sion, and permitting the Selectmen Of
any town, or the Mayor and Aldermen
of any city. as we'll as County Com
missioners, to petition the Highway
Commission for taking roads as State
highways. In place Of submitting to
the Legislature separate bill for 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 100000 has been pretty even
ly divided among fourteen counties.
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
| 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 con-
structed is intended to be an object
lesson, to those living near by. County
Commissioners 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
tim, such roads as will connect with
the great centers of trade, and join
| with through roads in other States, so
| that both local and Interstate COM
munication will be benefited. Under
| date of January. 1895, the Massachu-
| setts Highway Commission has rem
dered report which covers the work
of the past year, and this publication
should be consulted by those who are
considering legislation.
The provisions Of our law will per-
nit contracts for the construction to
be let to municipalities or to private
corporations, but the former arrange
ment is preferred, as it is more effec.
tual in teaching the people the art of
road building, and protects the State
against cheapening the work by the
| importation of foreign laborers, an
| element which is apt to be objection
able.
A resident engineer is appointed by
the Commission, and it is his duty to
be in attendance, and keep correct
account of all items to be paid for by
the State.
Wherever the traffic was of sufi-
cient proportions to warrant it the
roads have been broadened. The ad-
| vantage to owners derived from the
construction of the way is, as rule,
so much greater than the injury to
them by widening the road that, in a
large majority Of cases, the town Off
cials have been able to procure re-
leases without any cost.
Thirty-eight sections have been con-
tracted for, and only eightof them are
to have width Of eighteen feet Of
hardened surface, all others being ff-
teen feet wide. AS the primary object
is to get length of way, the Commis-
sioners are considering the advisable
ty of building single-track roads in
the thinly-settled districts These
would not be over nine feet wide, with