The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1898-01-25
Az to The extent of the road system

AZ to the extent of the road system
i'll European countries, / have been
unable to get any exact agures except
Tor France, which, with an area of
U 900 square mics, is credited with |
ove- 100000 miles Of public highways.
or one mile of road 10 every one-half
mile OF territory. About half of this
mileage is the finest type of stone roads
ana ali are maintained in the highest
state OF perfection. The sum of sc, 800,
600 is eXpcnccd yearly in building new
roads and renewing old ones, ana S32,-
600 900 is expended in maintenance
and Inspection
We are inclined 10 excuse the Door
showing we make in this comparison
on the plea that our country is new and
lnfcfior in wealth TO the European
countries. But II mus! be remembered
that the work of modern road building
did not in Europe unlil the
beginning OF this century, and that il
has not been confined 10y my means
to the rich and powerful nations.
Switzerland, which Is particularly bar
tel. of resources, is second only to
France in The excellence of her roads,
oO'iS vi "llSb navy COSl us IluCn lOE Il
single mile as we would be willing to
spend for n whole county. And desti-
tutc and impoverished Greece is build.
ing II maintaining a system of mod
rrn roads that would be a revelation
10 any American st tie. These Euro
pcan countries have learned the lesson
that we must learn, that, rich or poor
they cannot afford to be without good
roads, not because they are a delightful
luxury, but Il business necessity Just
IS the successful farmer has learned
that he cannot afford to do without
good implements, ma1hiucry and
wagons.
Most of these countries, and partic-
uiarly England, have tried us we have
done the VARIOUS e~Xpcdicnts for build.
ing roads without taxation, but all
have long since realized the universal
truth that to get anything worth hav.
irg 1t must be paid for, and it is now
the universal custom to carry On road
work in the same, manner as other grca,
public enterprises.
In America scarcely a beginning has
been made III scientific road building
Massachusetts was the fl st State tC
adopt advanced methods, and in 1885,
the State assumed the entire contrn
ald expense of the roads. Undc,
skilled engineers she is now rapid,
building a fine system of roads costin!
FROM So 200 to $40 900 per mile. Con
, nccticut and New jersey, under a sys
: TEN OF State aid and supervision, hav,
Tor several years been building excel
lent highways. California his Il hiHh
!, way commission, who are studying tn,
= Question for that State. Ohio Ina
about 5000 miles of fine turnpike M
Kentucky about 900 miles while Vir
= ginia has some 700 miles, all built be
fore the war Many counties and loca
communities in other States have mad
considerable progress in road imp: owe
ment, notably Wake and Mecklcnbur
counties in North Carolina. 1t is no
" uncommon on the roads of these couu
- ties to see a two horse wagon carryin!
nine bales of cotton.
y But asi,le from these few exception
u American roads arc well described b
DR.. Bagby in "Thc Old Virginia Gen
tlcman," as quoted by Judge Christia'
in the Virginia good roads convention
He says: pheasant it was to trC
through these forests on a he
- summers day, knowing what was t
" come at the Journeys end pleasant
too, to bowl along under the archin
> bows, albeit the ruls were terrible i
places, and there were two or tire
' immrmorial holes made by the butt
y of new logs, that made every vchicl,
bat chiefly the bu%-l'ack carriage, lure
y and careen like a ship in a heavy sea
= But these were useful holes. The
educated the young negro driver an
compelled the old one to keep hi
I, wrinkled, mealy land in. They toned
or rather tuned, up the nerves of tn
-" young ladies', and gave them excus
for uttcring the rrelticst shricks. . .
! Many were the short but "fcrvent pray
crs calculated by the old ladies in cor
Z sequence of these same holes, whic
= caile 10 be the provocalivcs of laten
u plety, and on that account were ncve
molcsted." CHAs. G. WILSON,
y Secretary.