The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-10-12
TO MAKE GOOD ROADS
TE2 UNITED STATES 100 YEARS
BEHIND EUROPE.
Plea ~ Ex-senator Dolph-ln-
With Proper EFFORT Cosld Ee SCI
esred-Advantages 10 the Coun-
try.

In the September issue OF Gcod Roads
and Cyc2iss = an article entitled A Pea
Tor Batter Roads" written by Ex-United
states Senator Joseph N Do.pa. OK
Oregon Whar Mr.. Do.ph says - particr-
larry applicants 20 this state His ar-ieie
- therefore printed in fu.l:
bIazed routes through forests and trails
across 2rairses answer the wants OF q
saFsSs and ca-oarogs people; but II civ
Ilxed countries improved roads are OF
prime necessity. The better the roads. the
less the cost Of transportation an1 travel.
tae more valuable the products OF ag-icuA-
ture and the less costly to the farmer are
rs necessary supplies.
AnS inhabitants OF sparsely populated
regions must of necessity submit 70 the
inconvenience OF poor roads but as the
country becomes more popoloas and the
arsa or cultivated lands Is increased. and
me product Of human Industry multiplied.
with the augmented wealth THAI these con-
diIions Induce the roads can and should
Do improved and perfected. There Is no
reason why every thIckIy settled and pro-
dacsive region in this country should not
Dc supplied with good roads. Improved
roads benefit all classes of people and
stimulate every branch Of productive in
dustry
In most cases. / am satisfied that the
reason why the roads in this country are
not better IS not that the necessary cost OF
construction and maintenance is beyond
the AGILITY or the people. but that Is Is the
inaiHerence Of the parties interested. the
,aiiure in some instances 10 properly To-
cate the roads. the lack of inte,igentIy
devised plans for their construction and
Improvement, and the extravagant use OF
FUNDS raised for the purpose
IN the matter of farm roads. this coun-
Try is greatly behind all the principal
countries OF Europe; and in the transpor-
tauon OF farm products TO the local mar
ket or railroad station our farmers labor
under great disadvantage In COMPARE
son With the farmers OF Europe As has
oeen said, We are at least 100 years be-
nina Europe. and about 2. 40 years behind
Rome ia this importan. matter" In many
portions Of the United States our country
reads are absolutely impossible at some
seasons or the year. and there Is hardly
any portion OF the country where i'm
proved roads, roads located on the most
direct lines OF travel, with proper grades.
and smooth. hard surfaces. which would
not be cut up by the wheels Of vehicles
In summer or become muddy In winter,
would not save at least one-haif In time
and expense OF transportation
The construction of good roads requires
large outlay OF money. The system OF
macadamized roads lately constructed in
Union and Essex counties, New Jersey,
cost 10000 a mile. and these roads are
probably net as substantial as most OF the
improved highways OF Europe. The roads
constructed by the Romans were much
more elaborate. durable and expensive.
Designating all obstacles. the Roman
roads were located upon the most direct
line between the points to be connected;
bitches were dug On each side. and the
soil removed until a firm foundation was
reached and the soil replaced with solid,
durable materials: the lower layer OF the
road5ed consisted of large dat stones. If
obiainable; II not. the layer was composed
OF other stones laid in mortar. Next came
layer of small stones and concrete: a
third layer OF finer concrete: then the sur
face layer. composed OF stones OF several
angles Joined neatly together, the whole
constituting a rcadbed OF from three TO
seven feet In thickness.
No good road can be constructed without
adopting. TO some extent. al least. the
Plans Of these ancient roads. Location up
on direct lines. as nearly as possible: min
imum grades: an elevated roadbed, higher
in the center than at the sides, so as TO
admit o. quick drainage. bitches to carry
of rapidly the surface water: removal OF
the loose soil and the substitution of solid
tt31t-2 AL 50 sdiI dS 10 IuEllsn Strength
and support a surface OF hard material
which will not become mud in wet sea-
sons, but cut into ruts. or be ground into
dust in dry seasons. are Indispensable
Great national highways. connecting the
great cities of the United States and ex-
tending from one extreme boundary to
another, have been proposed. something
Ike the famous roads constructed by the
Romans before the Christian era. But
times have changed: transportation and
travel and the movement OF troops be-
tween distant points is now by railroads
The present want OF improved roads is
FOR the purpose OF reaching these modern
means OF transportation. Tot roads par
ailei with the great lines Of railway so
much as roads radiating from railroad
stations and extending into the country
tributary to railroad lines
Some writers upon the subject indicate
a belief that the question OF improved
roads Is matter OF national concern. and
that congress can originate or aid in the
work OF building them. To facilitate the
transportation OF troops and munitions OF
war. and 70 make new regions accessible,
congress has. by subsidies OF lands and
BY appropriation OF money. aided IN the
construction OF wagon roads Liberal ap-
preparations are made for roads 10 na-
tional cemeteries. TO lighthouses and gov
eminent reservations and buildings The
necessity for military wagon roads owing
70 the construction OF railroads, has de-
creased. and I do not perceive how con-
gress can greatly aid in securing a system
% In proved highways in this country
Our government differs from those OF
mos- Of tie European countries in that
ours Is dual government: a combination
OF national and state governments: the
powers OF the national government be-
ING limited 20 those granted, In express
terms or by Implication. by the federal
constitution. The construction OF roads
and their maintenance are matters mainly
Of state jurisdiction ard concern.
The cost OF transportation Is a serious
tax upon both prod1cer and consumer.
Trgs craftsmanship VIII endsavor 10 re-
sucs this. tax to the minimum BY en-
courz aging manufactures IN agricultural
regions. thus bringing the producer and
consumer together as nearly as possible
and by this means not only reduce fsI.
do away altogether In many instances
with the cost az transportation While
charges for transportation by rail have
been for years decreasing. ard stsu con-
time 20 decrease. the cost OF getting farm
products 20 the railroad has rot Secres sssf
Railroads have been multiplied ard I'm
proved: but the country roads. the Only
means % transportation between the
farm ard tire railway station. have re-
Taasn@3 a. they were before the era %
railroads. Improved facilities and sharper
competition have been constantly re-
ascl.g the prise Of transport atom by
water ard rail: bat the east OF getting
or a5gnt2nt agricultural Vrcducts from
the farm 20 the railroad has rot decreased
More - expended 20 get \ sack CT -four
from the warehouse in Boston or New
fn~r a "a srx SfwNs- ~ those.
csgSes. than IL costs 20 transport Z. from
slnres Polls 20 the sezcoar3-
Great corporations are incorporated zri