Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1898-08-07

dIStflDuIeu. Every SIate Tn the union maintains separate "state diyisiono within the league, each state division having it's separate officers and carrv- ing on such work as local conditions demand. Attempts at legislation in favor of good roads were begun in 1891 by several of the state divisions and down to the present time good roads laws, through the efforts of the league, have been passed in about 15 of the largest states. The excellent reads in New Jersey were constructed under the good roads law of that state framed by members of the league and passed by tlls influence of that organi- zation.
 In Massachusetts the good roads law has resulted in the construction of excellent macadam roads in nearly every county of the state, and the ;eois- lature has appropriated the sums If $400,ooo. $60o,o ,o0o and $500, 900 respective ly, in the three years during which that law has been in force. The three mem bers of the Massachusetts hiphwav commission, who are sole adninistra- tors of the good roads law of that state, are members of the League of American Wheelmen, as are the most. skillful road officers in most of tbe other states.
 The wide-tire laws have been passed in several of the states, and, under di- rection of the league, experiments have been conducted and results tab1I- lated to show the economic value of wide tires, both in their effect in smoothing and maintaining the road surface and in reducing the tractiye power required to haul heavy loads The wide-tire laws are not the same in all states which have adopted them. but the general purport of each law is to prescribe a minimum width of tire for vehicles of certain weights. They fixed penalties for offenses against the law on the one hand and, on the other hand, toreduce the burden of road taxes on the part of all who observe it. In tIese laws the minimum width of tires of heavy vehicles is generally fixed at four inches, and the maximum width at seven. Experiments have shown that
  tire is of no advantage.
 In 1891 the chairman of the national highway improvement committee of the league wrote 10 Mr. James G. Blaine, at that time secretary of state, and persuaded Mr. Blaine to issue an official circular to eonsuls and other representatives of the United States in foreign countries requesting them to send to the department of state at Washington the fullest information ob- tainableregarding the construction and maintenance of public roads in the several countries to which they were assigned, and especially the economic benefits acquired by the farmer, manu- facturer and merchant by the use of these roads. The responses obtained were very full and satisfactory. They were included in an illustrated volume published in 6 large edition by the de- partment of state, which, with the eo- operation of the League of American Wheelmen, very widely and iudieious- ly distributed the books throughout this country.
 4b AeS DGCn o4oW NOIk u DIiiiS uOtiE the subject of making better roads among the farmers. rooted and ground cd in the customs and traditions of centuries in respect to road making. 1t is not from lack of intelligence, but from lack of knowledge of better things, that in America, which leads the world in excellence of most forms of transportation, the country roads should be far behind those of any other enlightened nation in the world. When once the farmer sees that by secur- ing good roads he can make two horses do the work for which four horses are required under the old system; that he can haul his products at any sea son of the year, and thus take advan- tage of good times in the market; that he and his family can keep up social intercourse with his neighbors, which now is denied them by long periods of 'tbad going;" and, above all, that the value of his farm is greatly enhanced by the rendering of it accessible to ] town and market, it is found that, however slowly he goes about it, he is disposed to make the experiment. at last.