The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1900-07-06
COUNTRY HIGHWAYS
GREAT REVIVAL OF ROAD IMPROVE
MGNT IN AMERICA.


Now Turns to Common Ronds-soiv-
ing Transportation Problem.
The spirit Of road building and i'm
provcmcnt has not been inactive in
this country during the past century;
but, owing to physical difficulties and
insurmountablc barriers, it has taken
q different course from that of other
nations Road building we have had
now for nearly 100 years, and in all
this time Il spirit of enterprise aud &C.
tivity has marked the work and
brought rcnown and credit upon the
builders. The nature OF the country
demanded that Il different system of
road building from that prevailing III
England and France should be adopt
ed, and the net results OF the closing
ccntury's laborS are greater by half
than those obtained in any other coun-
try on the globe. Not even making al
lowanccs for difference IN age, the
United States stands today AS the
leading road building country of the
world. What the European countries
have accomplished Ia 800 years we
have brought to pass in less than 100.
We have the longest and best roads III
the world 1t Is 10 discrcdit to us rs
nation when it is said in reply that
.hnv arc only in the form of railroads
and not ordina.c- country ROADS. FoI
what other purpose are roads built
tnau .nai * r"Sy communication and
transportaiiohf In country W lhc
length and breadth of the United
States steam roads were the only fen
siblc ones that an intelligent people
could build until the land was bound
together by rapid means Of communi.
cation.
Early in the present century the
question of building roads of the or
binary kind was agitatcd, and the par
ty which believed in a liberal construc-
ton of the constitution favored a stu
pcndous plan of getting the govern
mcpt to construct great national high
ways. That spirit Of road improve
mcnt, started early in the present cen
tury, has waNcd stronger and stronger
up to the present time. The need of
opening the country by means Of long
roads was appreciated by every one.
Early in 1S0G the great national high
way was begun. 1t was interrupted
and then abandoned for good cause.
But after an interval of more than 90
years similar enterprises have been
undertaken iii different parts of the
country. The old system of road build
ing was simply suspended because all
the private energy and capital were
needed to build railroads.
The railroads when introduced were
found to be great improvements over
the old highways SO far rs opening up
the country was concerned, and private
capital was invested by the millions.
The net results OF this work are visible
today IN the 10000 miles Of railroads
and about $4,000 miles of sidings and
double tracks. This is the reason why
American common roads have not ad
vanccd as rapidly during the present
century as otEer physical improve
mcn;S Of the country.
The opening OF tie country by vast |
railroad systems, however, has about |
reached climax, and ten years ago |
the work OF constructing new lines =,
practically ceased. except in few un-
*"ii!rl parts Of the country.
Hut wi;h tin decline in railroad |
hH:!;ling Tie old spirit OF internal road |
Improvement is revived, and the work,
discontinued 81 years ago, may now
hc said to be going OH again with re.
n"Wch viGor. In every part of the
country new ard improved common
roads are being constructed, railroad
I!acS are being connected with the sur.
farms and villages by fine
cia acalamiZcd. roads. and bicycle paths
lnd pleasure bou!cvards are springing
up as by magic. The brains, capital
md energy OF the country that early I
IN Tie present century constructed the
immense lines CT railroads are now be-
Ing turned into road Investments Of n
different nature. The transportation
prohlcm Will not be solved until every
habitablc part OF the country is in
direct communication with every other
part. and this can be accomplished
only by building common roads that
are paaSablc at all seasons Of the year.
The bicycle has been credited with
causing q great deal of the modern
potent cause is that railroad building
had about reached its limit when the
highways became popular
and the new area OF tho transportation
question was beginning. The coming
of the bicycle changed and fastened
upon the trend Of public opinion and
focused attcation upon the public
roads.
The future Of our roads is assured.
1t Will not Ec great many years be-
fore the United States will have some
Of the finest and longest macadamizcd
roads in the world. The national gov
and The Legislatures OF ncar-