The suburban citizen., 1900-02-10
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GOOD ROADS NOTES, |
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An Awakening Anpnront.

An Awakening Apparent.
TT XCEEDINGLY important is
II tho help the department is
giving to the good roads
movement, and this is what
Secretary Wilson says of problem
big with the fate of the American
farmer:
"Co-operation has been had With
the experiment stations of several
States in making steel roads, macad-
amized roads and gravel roads. The
people of all the States are much in
terested in the improvement Of their
public highways. There is great
demand upon the Department of Agri-
culture for assistance in road making,
in addressing the students at our ag-
ricultural colleges and in giving in
struction regarding the best methods
of using what material may be found
convenient. Publications have been
sent out from the department cover
ing the several features of road max
ing, and for these there is great de-
mand. Much attention is being given
to this subject by the Legislatures OF
the several States OF the Union.
"I am of the opinion that it would
be wise to have the resources of the
Eastern, Southern, Middle and West
ern States carefully inquired into by
the appointment of competent men in
each OF these sections, who would as
certain and report upon the road
making material obtainable and at the
same time give instruction in the act
ual construction of roads. There is
also a necessity for scientific inquiry
into the composition of road material
in the several sections of our country,
and the facility with which these ma
terials when brought together combine
to make good highways. Many sec
tions of our country have within reach
hard rock from which good roads can
be made. Other sections are entirely
lacking in this regard, and must, in
my opiuion, eventually look to steel
tracks for supplying permanent good
roads.
"In order to get information along
these lines, short sections of steel track
were laid during the last year at
Omaha, Neb.; Ames, Iowa, and st.
Anthony Park, MINI. The Western
States are not we'll supplied with stone
and gravel for road-making purposes,
and the people of these States are
watching these experiments with great
interest. 1t is our intention to en-
courage the laying down of steel track
sections during the coming year where
ever we can induce the leaders to pur-
chase the steel. We do not yet know
what is the best shape for the steel
rail, nor do we know the best material
to lay between the tracks, but inquiry
is being made along these lines and
information is being gathered from
experience.
"The people of the United States
have associated themselves into Ma
tionai dnd State organizations for the
purpose of encouraging the building
of better roads and for the considera-
tion of ways and means to that end.
There is great deal Of agitation and
considerable education along road
making lines. The people of many
localities are exceedingly anxious to
have the corporation of the depart
ment in improving their roads, and
demands of this kind are so numerous
that our limited force is entirely in
adequate to give the assistance re-
quired. The object-lesson road work
of the year has been as extensive in
territory covered as it has been far
renching in results accomplished.
Model roads of various kinds have
been built, under the supervision of
agents of the Office of Public Road In
quiries, in Maryland, Nebraska, Min
nesota, Iowa, Kentucky, Indiana and
Wisconsin. Elementary knowledge Of
road making is being rapidly spread
among the people. Students at our
colleges are taking a great interest in
the study Of road making. Gentle
men of means, enterprise, and public
spirit are doing much along expert
mental lines for the education Of their
neighbors."