Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-03-28
IMPROVED HIGHWAYS.
Fact Brought Ont at the Recent National
Road ParIIament.

Road ParlIament.
The movement IN favor of better
roads, which has been prosecuted with
such vigor in this country during the
past two or three years, has already
borne good fruit in several states. In
der the law passed by the last legis-
lature in Connecticut for promoting
good roads about 30 have been COM
pleted in the state, of which Is have
already been accepted by the state road
commissioners. Some &c towns out OF
the 168 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 new
road, the county one-third and the
town one-third-no town to expenCR
more than $4,000 in one year under tho
act, and the state not to spend in one
year more than $4,000 altogether. The
law requires "a lnacadamiZed road or
telford or other stone road, or other
road that will at all seasons of the year
be firm, smooth and convenient for
travel" the town to keep it in repair
when built. Many valuable and inter-
esting facts and figures connected with
the improvement of roads were brought
out at the recent national road parIia-
ment at Atlanta. The reports showed
that 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
been considered the banner state 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
$150,000. In some OF the states OF the
west, and in many states of the south,
country road building has progressed,
especially south, by the use of convict
labor. California has done no road
building, because of the problem of
local centers of population being sepa-
rated by long distances of unsettled
country. New York has taken n step in
advance by the appointment of COM
mission to investigate the subject of
good roads and devise some plan for
legislative adoption.
The resolutions adopted by the par
| lament at Atlanta urged the formation
of good-roads associations in all stntcs
where none now exist. The agricul-
tural department was commended for
| the interest it has taken and the prac-
| teal information it 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 adjustment 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 in
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 matter of vital interest to all
classes and conditions of people. 1t
has very large and direct relation to
the individual and commercial welfare
cf every community. Nothing of ma
terial sort is more conducive to the COM
fort, pleasure and prosperity of a peo-
pie than wide, smooth and well-kept
roads and streets.
The subject of good roads has recent
ly taken firm hold in the public mind,
and advance steps TO secure improve
ment in this important direction have
been taken in many sections both OF
this and neighboring states 1t does
indeed begin to look as if the people had
determined to no longer remain con-
tent with thorOughfares which were
at once disgrace to them and severe
tax upon all their forms of industry.
They have been slow to move in the
matter, but now that they have, we be-
lieve that the work will be done thor
oughly and right Christian Work.
ORCHARD AND GARDEN