The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-03-21
HIGHWAYS.
Fact Brought Out at the Recent Nationa'
Road Parliament.

The movement IL laNOr OF DeVIcl
roads, which has been prosecuted with
such vigor in this country during the
past two or three years, has already
horne good fruit in several states. Tn
Ter the law passed. by the last leg:s-
lature in Connecticut for promoting
good roads about 30 have been CON-
pleted in the state. of which l3 have
already been accepted by the state road
commissioners. Some 20 towns out OF
the les in the state will probably avail,
themselves soon Of the provisions of
the act, which provides that the state
shall pay one-third the cost of 4 new
road, the county one-third and the
town one-third-no town 20 eXpend
more than $4,000 in one year under the
act, and the state not to spend in n
year more than $4,000 altogether. The
law requires "a InacadamiZed road or
a telford or other stOne road, or other
road that viii at all seasons of the year
be firm. smooth and convenient for
travel the town to keep il in repair
when built. Many valuable and inter-
Csting facts and figures connected with
the Improvement of roads were brought
cut at the recent national road parlia-
ment at atlanta. The reports showed
hat Massachusetts leads in good road
making. with an annual appropriation
Of 100000 in state road building. dis
tributed under the direction of her
commission. New Jersey. which has
hoo, ,,r-.1,r,l A., l.,,r.- r-.-a for
good roads, in addition to many miles
OF county roads, reported progressive
Improvement under her state aid law,
the appropriation for which is now
$4,000. In some of the states of tn"
west. and i'll many state OF the south,
country road building has progressed,
especially south, 10y the use of convict
labor. California mas done no road
building, because of the problem of
local centcrs of population being sepa-
rated by long distances Of unsettled
country. New York has taken a step in
advance by the appointment OF a ON
mission to investigate the subject Of
good roads and devise some plan for
legislative adoption.
The resolutions adopted by the par
lament 1t Atlanta urged the formation
Of good-roadS associations in all states
where none now exist. The agricul-
tural department was commended for
the interest it has taken and the prac-
teal information Il has disseminated
in regard to road building. The con-
struction of roads was claimed to be ]
proper work for the state, alone or in
cooperation with counties, townships
and municipalities. The resolutions
favored the aboliShment of the practice
of highway working in payment of tax
assessment, urged the use of wide tires
and commended the utilization of penal
labor in road construction. The par,
lament, looking with disfavor upon
roadside fences, asked for the passage
of state laws which will protect farms
from trespass and encourage the re
moval of expensive fence lines along the
highways, where not necessary to III
close pasturage. Congress was asked
to survey all public lands before sale
for the establishment of the necessary
lines of highways.
The improvement of the public high
WAYS is a matter of vital interest to al
classes and conditions of people. L
has a very large and direct relation IL
the individual and commercial welfare
CT every community. Nothing of a ma
terial sort is more conducive to the com
fort, pleasure and prosperity of a PEG
pie than wide, smooth and well-kep'
roads and streets.
The subject of good roads has recent
" taken firm hold in the public mind
and advance steps to secure improve
ment in this important direction hav'
been taken in many sections both o
this and neighboring states. 1t doe
indeed begin to look as if the people hat
determined to no longer remain con
tent with thoroughfares which wer'
at once a disgrace to them and a sever
tax upon all their forms of industry
They have been slow to move in tbs
matter, but now hat they have, we be
lieve that the work will be done thor
9ughly and right.-Christian Work.