The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-31
LET Us HAVE GOOD ROADS.
A Matter That Has Been Considered
For More Than 70 Years.

I
For More Than 10 Years.
Editor Morning News: Away back in
1920 the Georgia legislature had under
consideration the question Of improving
the roads. Notice the following extract
taken from the records Of the legislature
of that year:
In the House Of Representatives, Dec.
7, 1920
The committee on whom it devolved to
take into consideration the internal i'm
provement of the state beg leave to re-
port that they have had the same under
consideration, and are now ready to SUBJ
NIT the result of their deliberations to
| this House.
Perhaps there is no subject to which
| the attention of a legislative body can
be directed with more real utility to the
| community and great certainty Of ample
reward than those under consideration;
and II is equally certain there are none
which more imperiously require legisla-
| tive interference.
The means and facilities tending to the
Improvement of agriculture, and the re-
| ciprocal intercourse and commerce Of
mankind in civilized life are. and ever
will be considerations of the first import
/ ance. In their discovery they require the
| united exertions Of theory, observation
and experience, and in the application
the combined energies of government.
| The solicitude on the subject which is
! felt in various parts of the union at this
! time is indicated in a manner not to be
/ mistaken; and ought to arouse the state
| of Georgia from her lethargy, and induce
| her to adopt a bold and liberal policy
commensurate with her ample resources
and the public expectations. >
! (Omitting here what refers to internal
| navigation)
The same principles and consideration
which have directed the attention of your
| committee to internal navigation operate
/ with almost equal force in relation to the
necessity of making turnpikes, or other
permanent roads, leading to our prinei-
| pal commercial towns.
All classes Of the community
| from the driver of the carriage
and six down to the humble pedestrian
! are interested in performing their respect
! i've Journeys with as much facility as pos
sible. The increasing population and in
| ternal commerce Of the state, of course,
! occasion an increased wear of the roads,
which in a variety Of instances are still
/ further injured by local circumstances.
AS an incipient step the appointment
/ of a civil and typographical engineer Of
/ capacity and considerable experience is
respectfully recommended. For this Of
/ fee there ought to be liberal provision and
/ his duty should be to ascertain with pre-
| cision the particular route, points and sit
uation for the best location of the pro-
4 posed improvements by furnishing drafts
! and plots with explicit written descrip-
lions and explanations from actual sur
/ veys and levels, and submit the same an
I nually to the legislature. With respect 10
/ the particular mode in which the re-
/ sources Of the state might be most advap-
tageously applied to such objects, that
must necessarily vary according to the
/ object and existing circumstances at the
1 time of expenditure, and may be pro-
vided for by law from time 10 time, under
the advice and direction of the civil en-
| gineer.
With the foregoing remarks your com
mittee ask leave TO refer to the bill, re-
ported to the House Of Representatives,
1 creating the office Of typographical ana
civil engineer. as a summary develop
ment Of their views upon this interesting
subject.
Approved Dec Il. 1890.
So Il seems. Mr. Editor. that seventy
five years ago tho roads were IN as shame
full condition as they are to-day. and