The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1896-09-03
ton Department Of Road inquiry. or to


Mr. Locke has selected list of promi-
nent people in Tennessee, to whom the |
letter has been sent; also. to each MEM
Der OF the General Assembly and to the |
Chairman of each County Court.
He calls attention to the fact that |
within the last ten years several States
have enacted laws which enabled them
to build good, permanent roads at a
cost so moderate as to be scarcely felt
by the individual tax payer, and that,
by business-like management, the
State gradually becomes possessed OF
creditable system of highways. free TO
every one.
He also shows that State with bad
roads cannot compete with States hav-
ing good roads, and calls attention to a
collection of road laws Of other States,
which has been made that the people OF
Tennessee may have the benefit of their
consideration in framing the road laws
for Tennessee.
The admirable work being done BY
Mr.. Locke in stirring up this matter,
furnishes helpful suggestions for every
section of the country where the roads
are still unimproved, and the people
are seeking the best means of eRectins
a change, or a reorganization Of their
road systems.
Mr.. Locke suggests the very idea
which is the germ of the State road
system. Massachusetts has already
perfected such system. by which some
Of the main highways are built by the
State. They are constructed with all
the intelligence and skill that modern
science and the Government can com.
mand. They serve as models, upon
which the remaining roads of the coun-
ties through which they pass, can be
| patterned. Such roads form by COM
parison, the greatest possible incentive
to system Of universal good roads.
throughout the balance of State
Mr.. Locke also says: THE object
lesson presented by mile Of smooth.
easy graded mountain road, or fine.
well-made road in the sand and clay
country of West Tennessee, would do
more to impress the people than vol
umes of written, or oral instructions"
This Is true: and wherever perfected
highways have been constructed In a
State, they put to shame the poor
roads, and the people are never satisfied
with their inferiority.
A striking Illustration of this, Is the
construction of the park drives and the
first boulevards of Chicago. The frs
good drives built there only led to {
desire for more. The appreciation b.
the people of the desira bility Of sucl
roads soon led to their expansion int,
a boulevard system which has becom
the pet of the people of Illinois, yes
more-an object of national pride. /
has done more to elevate the genera
condition Of the streets Of Chicago, thai
all the campaigns which might hav
been fought without such a subject les
son daily before the people.
, People sometimes ask If this goo
roads movement is going to increas
, the cost of taxation. They imagin
| some tremendous upheaval is to occu
I resulting in an enormous additional e2
penditure for road construction. TIL
kernel in this proposition is that SUI
ficient money is already being spent
secure universally good roads witho,
I getting them.
Gen. Roy Stone estimates that $45
. 900, 900 was spent last year in the repa
. and maintenance Of the present road
Of the United States; that SIS, 000, 900 ,
this sum. IL properly expended. wou
keep the roads in better condition tina
at present, leaving the remaining so
100000 for the construction of ne
roads.
= Mr.. Locke also states that In parts
. Tennessee there are hundred Of NAL
Of miserable road. which can be ma
r good. or materially improved. by simp
= draining them and using the sand al
d clay everywhere present in proper pr
r portion to form hard, smooth, al
y firm roadbed.
In closing his circular. Mr.. Loo
says: Should the replies to this lett
indicate that majority Of those !
ceiving 1t really and earnestly wish t
State to have better roads. congre
of Tennesseans will be called in the ne
j. future to discuss the question; to lea
i. what other States have accomplish
= in this line. that we may profit by tn
a, experience; and especially to sect
= united concert Of action by Tenn
scans for the good Of Tennessee"