Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1896-07-31

ing to the principal hospitals, so that
the ambulances might have easier GO
ing, and upon some of the worst slum
streets down town. Upon both OF these
steps the board of health insisted.
Everybody knows what the bicycle
is doing for the good roads problem
Of course the farmers have all along
been the persons most interested in
improving the country roads, and IT
seems little strange that they left
the work to the wheelmen so long. But
similar thing happened in photog-
raphy. The professional photographers,
working for their livelihood, haven't
developed their OWL business half SO
rapidly in some directions as the ANA
teurs, working for fun. Here's where
the good citizenship comes in. The
bicyclists and the good roads prophets
are hand in glove. In many Of the
states the l.. A. w. consuls even frown
upon the construction of separate bi-
cycle paths, partly hesitating to divert
so much money from the common roads,
partly fearing lest the construction of
special paths may result in abridging
the privileges of the wheel on the thor
oughfares. This fear is probably Ill
founded. Local authorities have always
exercised the right to regulate and
classify vehicles for the good of all
classes, without pushing their rights
where the classification ceases. Special
speedways are in many cities construct
ed for trotting horses, but the man in
the sulky uses the common roads in
way; and so does the equestrian. for
whom special paths have been laid out
in most large parks.
However this may be, motives of the
attitude of the more conservative con-
suls in this matter are most emphatical-
ly those of good citizenship.
Until recently New Jersey and Mas
sachusetts were the two states which
had done most for their highways. The
most radical of recent legislation, how
ever, is the new Connecticut law (stat-
ues of 1880 which pledges the state TO
pay one-third the cost of one mile of
road in each town each year if the coun-
ty and town will each pay one-thirtl.
The cost of one mile of road is estimated
| at $4,000. 4 poor town is by this means
enabled to get mile OF good road at a
direct cost to itself of but S coo, and the
most of the general state and county
| cost falls on the richer towns and cities.
4 better device could hardly be imag.
ined for encouraging road improvement
| in the poorer regions. Eighty-five
towns availed themselves of the law last
| year, and rs more have already swung
! into line in 1896. These are about two
| thirds of all the towns in the little Nut.
meg state Before the year is over a
New York cyclist may ride on good
roads nearly all the way to Boston, by
way of New Haven, Hartford and
| Springfield.
In New Jersey road building has been
carried on upon scientific principles, not
so much throughout the state, as in
Connecticut, but rather concentrated
in the more popuious counties. Still
cne may ride to Philadelphia, 90 miles
on good road all the way and the triI
has been made in less than eight hours
more than once.
The bicycle movement showed dan
ger at one time of being captured by
hoodlums and road scorchers, but it i
far from being in their hands now. The
great League of American Wheelmea
stands again for good citizenship in for
bidding road racing. Road races arr
held. but the ban of the league robs
them of their regularity. This is poin
still in controversy and may be left fol
! future settlement. It is possible tina