The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-09
The Good Roads Movement.

The automobile has been regarded thus
far as an article OF luxury and ornament
rather than of public utility. 1t may be-
come as common as the trolley car in
course of time but at present the common
man regards it rather as freak. The All
/ tomobile Club. which lately held it's first
] banquet in New York City cannot be called
an organization which has much IN ecm-
mon with the masses OF the American
people.
Yet this club is likely to be of great use,
indirectly. to the general public, and
prove anew that the human race is so
bound together thar the development Of
he fe1y often involves. sooner or later. the
good OF the many At this banquet strong
roads movement. and it was suggested
ihat = national or transcontinental high
way be made. one hundred and
twenty-five feet wide and traversiGg
twenty-five States. the route including
Boston. New York. Washington. Chicago,
Omaha and san Francisco. 1t was proposed
that one-third the cost be paid by Con-
gress. one-third by the States through
which the road shall pass. and one-third
By the counties. towns and cities directly
affected by the improvement. or course, it
cannot be known how the various States
and rural neighb0rhoOds Will receive this
proposition. but II road as durable and
permanently useful as the old Roman
highways could be made it seems as il it
would be of great benefit to the general
public as we'll as to the Automobile Club.
The good roads agitation is one of the
movements directly due to the introduce
ton OF the bicycle, So long as travel was
confined 10 railway tracks. country roads
were not OF much consequence to people
in general When a road is used By few
travellers, il does rot pay to keep it in a
very good condition. especially il it hap
pens to lie through a mountainous or sandy
tract where spring floods and other causes
are liable 10 render it impossible or dan
serous But when the bicycle clubs began
TO go about The land, they wanted road
which would not destroy the perishable
rubber tires. or compel the rider to dis
mount and lead has machine for a consid-
cradle distance. The increasing use Of the
automobile viii probable have much the
same effect on legislation. and road-mak-
ing in general. that the bicycle did.
In eome ways. the use Of both these ma
chimes is likely 10 Toe a very good thing
for country neighborhoods. II may posi- (
bly, lead 10 the revival OF the charming old /
country inn. which has vanished with the I
OF the ztage-coach, and been /
replaced most horribly by the railway res
tauraut. In that case life viii be pleasant /
for the tnn-keeperaEd the delights OF travel /
viii be increased. American country life /
would also have an added element Of pictur- /
eequeuess and beauty. which It sadly needs |
Aside from the social effects Of this change I
In the method Of travel. good roads viii 1
benefit the farmer IN various ways. especi- /
ally il. as in this proposed highway. things 4
can be so arranged that he viii not have I
TO pay the whole cost IN some mountain (
districts OF New Hampshire and Massachu- .
sets. where much money is brought into .
the state by the ple1sure-seekng summer /
population. the native is obliged to pay so I
much for keeping the highways in good
condition that it eats up most Of his profits
in the course of the year.