The Jamesburg record., 1900-05-19
THE STATES NEW ROADS.
Report of State Road Commis-
sioner Henry 1. Budd.
THICKNESS OF ROADS

that have given excellent satisfaction.
and are nearly all in fine condition after
year Of wear.
Mr.. William E. King. County Engineer
Of Morris, says that Morris County has
built about one hundred miles Of four and
six inches roads which have for wears
sustained the traffic and are in good con-
dition.
Hon. D. D. Denise. Mayor Of Freehold,
says that on account of the almost i'm
passabe condition in winter time of their
main street they were forced to spread
over the surface four inches of loose
stone, allowing the traffic to bring it down
to hnal repose. 1t has, under all coudi-
tions OF weather, supported the traffic so
satisfactorily that their Council has de-
cided to cover all their leading streets
with the same thickness of stone, apply
ing two thousand tons each year.
The townships of Bergen and Passaic
counties have built many miles of four
inch roacs. Their sustaining and wear
Ing power is so great that they are con-
stantly adding roads of the same thickness
to their mileage. Many towns and town.
ships in other counties are improving
their streets with light coverings OF stone,
which, with reasonable repairs, sustain
the traffic for years.
Long Island, Connecticut and other
States have built many miles of light
roads thereby being able to give larger
areas greater benefit than if the same
money had been expended in unneces-
sarily thick pavements with thousands
OF tons of stones only serving as a foun-
dation, where earth well prepared and
drained answers the same purpose.
WHAT ARE BAD ROADS COSTING THE
FARMERS.
Tie cost of good roads car be stated in
dollars and cents. but it is not so with bad
roads. Bad roads are costing some citizens
of New Jersey half their life time in
driving ever them. To drive one mile
occupies the time it would take to drive
five if the roads were good. They are
costing many farmer much of the self
respect be feels when driving along a
good road at good pace with clean buggy,
clean harness and a clean horse. They
are costing our farmers small sums which
soon aggregate large sums in repairs ~
wagons, harness and whips. They are
costing the privilege of attending church
and public NEE etings at many seasons of
the year. They are costing the young
people considerable part of their educa-
ton, costing them the privilege of society,
which every healthy mind demands.
They are costing the rural districts a
large share Of their population, which,
in disgust at the stagnancy of farm life,
drifts to the cities oVerflowing the profess
sions and trades, and lesseniDg the value
of farm property. to which can be added
the loss to trade and commerce, to the
railway and transportation system and
the manufacturing and dairy interests,
all of which are direct and indirect losers.
Good roads bring prosperity and pros
perity brings good roads. They go hand
in hand. each assisting the other. A re-
cent write said that Spain would not have
lost Cuba if she had joined the gocd roads
movement. Her roads are in a most
wretched condition. We have not yet
learned what Rome knew one thousand
years ago. that roads are the arteries of
commerce along which flows the life
stream of nation, bearing success, cvliz.
alton and contentment to them habitants
Uuder our State Aid Law the farmer and
rural population do not pay the entire
cost Of road building. Good country roads
are expensive and in every way neces,
sary for the development of the country,
and when the farmer bore the entire
burden it was difficult to secure good roads.
TIE towns are not complaining at their
share of the cost. 1t gives them frea and
uninterrupted communication with the
surrounding country at all seasons of the
year, and they seem to be willing to pay
a fair proportion of the cost. The
principle of State Aid has been recognized
by Massachusetts,, Connecticut, New
Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont and New
York. In this the entire population,
urban as well as rural, contributes to the
cost of country road building. In all
European countries national aid in one
form or another is given. In England the
County Conncil has entire jurisdiction
over the roads and is aided by a grant
from the National Treasury. The roads
of Scotland and Ireland are also under a
system of county management. French
roads are national, departmental and
communal, corresponding largely TO
tntn ,t.-o 4 T.. IL 4.