The Republican journal., 1898-01-20
Good Roads.
Their Educational and Economic v,

"A L w
lngton University.
Good roads are largely the means and
measure of civilization. In 1872 the rail
way between Yokohama and Toxic was
opened. 1t was only twenty -one miles
long. The occasion was celebrated with
imposing pageantries. The Mikado was
present. 1t was the first time in the his
tory OF Japan that its sovereign, forsaking
his sacredly guarded seclusion, had APP
peared in public. Tens of thousands of
japanese lined both sides of the track all
the way between the two cities. AS the
royal train approached the myriads bowed
their heads to the earth, and did not ven
tuie to raise them till their revered Tenno
had passed. The event was significant. 1t
symbolized the emergence of Japan from
its immemorial seclusion and its adoption
OF the methods OF Western civilization.
There are now 2. 29O miles of railroad in
Japan and large extensions already planned
will soon be built. The construction of
these railroads is leading to a rapid i'm
proyement of common roads, and to an
easier interchange of products and ideas.
Better highways are primarily the result,
but secondarily a cause of that awakened
alertness which is the distinctive feature
of new Japan. They are an expression of
the progressive spirit, which, adopting the
factors and forces of Caucasian civiliZa-
ton, has enabled this valiant little nation
to vanquish its colossal but inert adver-
sary. The Improvement of the roads of
Japan approximately represents its adj
vance in science, mechanical art and mill
tary power.
la 1872 the roads between Tunchow and
l1,-,, r.
was paved with large blocks of stone. In
these blocks the traffic of centuries had
worn ruts that were in some places 10
inches deep. When the wheels of the
sp1ingleSs vehicles suddenly dropped into
these grooves the shock was almost vo-
lent enough to dislocate the traveller
neck. Close by there was dirt road
which had been cut so deep by long years
of constant use that the head of man on
horse back was not visible above the sur
face of the ground. A heavy shower con-
verted the road into a canal, and there was
credible evidence that men had been
drowned in the sudden floods from which
they could not escape. The stone road
could have been repaired by simply turn
ing over the blocks with which it was
paved, and the depressions of the earth
road could easily have been filled. For
hundreds of years the sluggish Chinese
had been content to endure serious incon-
Yeniepces which slight exercise of energy
would have prevented,
About thirty years ago the persistent So
licitation of some Englishmen obtained
from the Chinese Government conces-
sion to build model railroad A circular
track few miles in extent was construct
ed near Shanghai. The highest digni-
taries Of the Kingdom were invited to
witness the operation OF the road. The
Emperor would not degrade his majesty
by an acceptance OF a foreign invitation,
bat mandarins of exalted rank were pres
emit and with robes streaming in the wind
rode around the circuit with as much
apparent delight as children feel in riding
the horses of merry go round. The
officials expressed an unbounded admira-
ton of the miracle which the foreigners
had wrought. Their own countrymen
were incapable of so great an achieve
ment They would like to own such
marvellous work Would the Englishmen
sell this wonderful machinery? As the
railroad had served its only purpose as an
object lesson. It's builders were only too
glad to dispose OF the i4se e,s plaything at
the high price which the Chinese Govern
mont offered. The first night after the
transfer OF the property the new owners
utterly destroyed the whole road. The
transports OF the Chinese had been feign-
ed. lheiI pltJentiOns of admiration We're
only the diplomatic strategy that enabled
them to gain possession Of the road. But
once masters the Chinese showed their
implacable hostility to European innova-
tiunS, and thtir traditional unwiiliugness
to have the gray IS of their ancestors desc
Grated by the presence of a railroad
such facts graphically illustrate the IN
enlightened and unprOgressive condition
OF China. The drowsy Chinese were easily
conque"ed by the Wide-awake japanese.
But the rude shocks of battle and the
humiliation OF defeat will probably startle
the inert population of the Flowery King
dom INTO an adoption of all the modern
methods " hich good roads typify.
The roads which the English have con-
strLcted in India have perhaps done more
to break down the almost insuperable bar
Hens of caste and TO amellorate the condi
tiot of the ma ,sts than ali other agencie
put together.
l. is stated that twenty five years ago no
highways exterded from Constantinople
far into the interior. The few suburban
'pobo Hhu bCSi JUN Simply Ipl tDt plcdS-
ure drives OF tie Sultan. What Allah had
not done it would be an act OF impiety for
a Turk to do. The introduction of i'm
pr0vements which the Koran did not sane
ton would be It violation of divine COM
mands. The universal absence of good
reads in the Ottoman Empire is one of the
causes of the general ignorance and power
ty of the Turkish people and of the fanatic
and brutal bigotry which has slaughtered
tens Of thousands of Aimenidns for a diff
ference Of religious belief. The Turks
can never become enlightened and pros
Porous till they have established through
out the empire system of intercommuni-
cation that will 1elp to educate, liberalze
and enrich the people.
Thus far the negative side of the question
has been presented. 1t has been shown
that an absence of good roads always
indicates an absence of civilization. Rail
roads have been aiken as the type of re-
hnement, because in rude lands where
there are no raj roads there are seldom
good roads of any other kind. Railways
have been introduced into such countries
by the influence of foreign capital, but
their Introduction always leads to the i'm
prOvement of common roads.
1t can not, of course, be Justly claimed
that good roads are original causes of
civilization, for it requires public intell-
gence TO appreciate their value, but they
always promote the enlightenment which
builds them. They are potent factors in
fljtfnSjpC tho e,lr11,tinn which