The Jamesburg record., 1900-07-07
THE STATES NEW ROADS.
Report of State Road Commits
sioner Henry /. Budd.

'raSeI. from 81 100 to Sl28 per mile.
The maintenance Of the county road is
based OH the same plan as the State roads,
Except that being narrower 1.-THE average
width is five yards) and generally having
no footpaths. road keeper has about
two and half miles to keep instead of
me and half by State rosds. The aver
age cost OF building county road five
yards wide is SIS 900 per mile. The annual
repairs average S55 per mile.
RAILWAYS ANXIOUS FOR GOOD ROADS
Notwithstanding the popularity accept
ed theory that all corporations are soul
less, it must be conceded that railway
corporations have been the pioneers OF
progress in this country. and have not
only blaZed the pathway to our wonders
iul development, as pioneers are generally
credited with doing, but have actually
constructed the highways that the grea.
cavalcade of civilization may follow with.
out obstruction or hindrance.
The public spirited directors of these
combinations do not build alone for the
present. They realize that on the pro-
sperIty of the people depends their own
and they know that the vast wealth OF
the Western Empire will soon turn the
tide of traffic that has so long found its
market and its outlet on the Eastern sea-
board to the golden ports of the Pacific
for shipment to Asiatc countries and the
islands of the sea. They know, too, thai
nearly every pound that goes to foreign
markets must first be hauled in wagons
over Western prairie roads, and that the
producer must first have his prof: before
the railroad can get the produce to trans
port.
This is why they are so willing and so
enthusiastically aiding this great move
ment. 1t is a business proposition with
them just the same as the farmer and
merchant should make it. 1t is not
philanthropic effort that levels forests,
opens mines, builds cities and founds
governments among men. Itis a struggle
of individuals severalIy and collectively
to better their own conditions; it is an
effort to accumulate dollars.
Que general passenger agent of great
railway system, in pledging the co-opera-
ton and assistance of bis road, closes his
letter by saying: "While on this line,
would like to state that there is no one
movement that is of grea ter value to the
railroads than the work you are doing
wish you every success b."
TRANSPORTATION.
Transportation is one of the most inns
portant problems occupying the minds OF
people to-day. Capital has been energetic
in improving the larger means OF traus-
portation as open carriage. canals and
railways, while the arteries and veins
leading to and from these have been sad
ly neglected, with the result that one ton
of freight can be carried by water for a
thousand miles or more and by rail two
hundred and fifty miles for the cost of
moving one ton only five miles over the
common roads. New Jersey has twenty
thousand miles of country roads and
about one thousand miles of railway in
which an immense amount of capital
has been invested; yet it will scarcely be
contended that they are OF more impor-
tance to the country than the common
highways. Had an equal amount been
spent upon the common roads this State
would have been the best paved one i'm
the world. Bicycles, electric railways and
automobile carriages are being universal.
| 10 o. oAonfoA pior >fk
They are all beyond the experiments |
stage and the great utility of the automo-
bile has been demonstrated. So many fac
tories are being started and so much capi-
tai entering into their construction that
they will be in the reach of sll. Their
use will accentuate still greater demand
for road improvement. They will afford
cheap and convenient transpo rtaton for
both the country and town people. The
electric roads will exercise beneficial
influence by drawing population to tn.
country; this population will need better
roads. All the increased freight nee
essary from increased population will
need increased means of conveyance to
different centres. Automobiles coming
largely into use will be road makes in
stead of road breakers. Free and unin-
terrupted intercourse for the farmer will
advance the intelligence of the farming
community aud will create for the farm
eI more ways of money making. Greal
prosperity and refinement bring greater
needs. Along the highways will flow
wealth and culture, to be participated in
| by the villages, towns and cities. Tn.