Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1900-06-29
ABOUT GOOD ROADS.
THEIR HISTORY, CONSTRUCTION,
UTILITY, AND ECONOMY.

of 1900. Middlebury High school.
In order to progress a country must
have ready and effective means of COM
munication with other countries, and
what is of equal Importance, quick and
adequate means of communication within
its own borders. That common roads
are essential to the development of the
natural resources of the country and
form a primary element in the material
development of a nation, there can be no
question. Canals and rail ways have no
doubt, in modern times, superseded to
some extent the common highways, still
these retain their importance as essential
auxiliarles. 1t Is held by some that
since the Introduction of railroads these
have assumed to a greater or less degree
the functions of the common road, and
that highways are no longer an in
dication of progress. This may be true
to a limited extent, and account in a
measure for the poor condition of our
highways in many states. The relation
which the railroad and the common road
bear to each other may be compared to
our systems of waterworks, the large
pipes carrying the water along the
streets are the railroads, while the
smaller and no less important pipes car
rying the water into the buildings are
the common roads branching of through
the country. Without the common roads
then, we find that the interchange of
advantages, moral, intellectual and
physical, which now takes place in all
highly civilized countries between the
rural and the urban population. could
not be maintained without them indeed
our town and cities would not continue
to exist. The supply of the population
collected in such places with the various
products of agriculture necessary to
physical existence could not be sus-
tanned. Nor. on the other hand, would
the rural population atlording that sup
ply be benefited by a return in exchange
of the retinements of the town. and the
various articles of luxury and necessity
obtained by commerce from every part
of the globe.
The importance of good roads to the
welfare of a nation was not unknown to
the ancients. The Carthaginians were
systematic and scientific road builders.
In Peru the Incas built good roads, the
remains of which attest their magnifi.
cence. The Egyptians, Persians and
BabyloniaDs were also noted for their
great roadways. TO the latter is ascrib.
ed the construction of the first paved
roads but it remained for the Romans,
who learned the art from the Carthagini-
ans, to bring road-making to its highest
Ictafn pf laNalAnn1ant Tho nrpat An
plan way, begun as early as 3l2 +. c.,
was the first of a vast network of SPLEEN
did roads that. in the period of the
empire, extended not only throughout
Italy, but all over the provinces. The
Romans took great pains in the con
struction of their roads, and their sub
stautial character is well demonstrated
by the fact that they have in some In
stances borne the traffic of POGO year
without material injury. These road,
were extended to every part of the
empire, but in the breaking up OF
society which followed the decline OF
the Roman empire, they fell out of re
pair and finally into ruin. The thing
which we should notice about Roman
roads is that they were constructed anC
kept in repair by the imperial govern.
ment. Later on during the struggle of
the nations with each other we hear
very little about the roads except tina.
they were very poor. And it was no.
until the advent of Mac Adam and Tclforl
that any progress was made. 70 join
MacAdam in particular do we owe the
revival of good roads. The distinguish
ing feature of his system Is the employ
ment Of small angular pieces of stone 70.
the road covering, and it is this spleudi.
system of mGcadamizing that is being It
warmly urged in various states AT thu
present time. Is regards t%he>condition
construction and repair of her roads, GU.
own state of Vermont is at present very
backward, comparing what She is no
doing with what Massachusetts, Con
necticut and other states are doing, sh.
might be said TO be asleep.
b In 1896 the legislature of Massachu
sets passed a bill to appropriate
4 certain sum for the betterment of tn
common roads. 1t provided that III
money should be equally divided anon.
the counties, and a section of macadanI
iEN ltAA 'AilA III NdNps - al ~ pei lilitAt
j These experiments have been every
y where continued and have borne splendi
J. fruit. Last year Massachusetts appro
pri'ted Sj,0OO,0OO. and built a. mile
and has now In the state 2GG miles
Connecticut. New Jersey, New IIamp
shire and other states soon followc
Massachusetts, so that during the pas
few years a great movement has take
place towards the Improvement and cor
~ struction of the common highways
The advantages of good roads to tn
(, state, county, town and village, cannC
be overestimated. The advantages {
, good macadam roads to a town lik
o Middlebury would be manifold.
* Our town Is "A natural business centC
y for a considerable district of Addiso