Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1901-07-12
Retter Roads Coming.

The agitation of the subject OF better fOaus
and the proper care of streets and highways
continues without abatement. The time mas
come in the history of this country when the
construction of roads is taken up as busi-
ness proposition,
While the cOuntrylwas young and during the
time when the process of building nation
out of a wilderness was under way, there was
no time nor money to be wasted in what was
then considered as purely the ornamental.
But the country is now on firm and sub
substantial footing its wealth has grown
rapidly and there is thus the time and money
to spare in the direction Of making improve
ments that are practical as well as ornamen-
tai The hundreds of thousands Of roads that
were cut through the forests and across the |
plains were originally designed for immedi-
ate use. The object was then to make an |
opening for travel between given points, and
the traffic over such roads was in crude We
hieles, the number of which was limited |
With the growth of towns and cities came
the demand for better roads and highways
that were passable every month in the year.
The railroad development, to a large extent
made unnecessary the immediate building OF
fine wagon roads, but the railroads in time
failed TO meet the local requirements. FIRST
came the betterment of town and city streels'
followed slowly by the increased mileage OF
good roads in the suburban districts But
the country has expanded, and the popula-
ton has grown so rapidly, that every mile OF
roads in the States east of the Mississippi
river is now absolutely necessary for the
daily use of the people.
For years the farmers were willing to use
: four or six horses to do what two horses
ought to do. Gradually, improved roads
were constructed here and there but there
was no continuity and no connection. The
traveller by wagon or carriage could drive
few miles in comfort only to be met later on
by roads deep in mud or dust, or filled with
dangerous ruts. In turn came the bicycle
and hundreds of thousands OF town and city
residents began to make trips into the rural
districts, only to find that the way was
blocked for safe riding The wheelman be-
gan to agitate the question of better roads, IN
. turn the owners of carriages took up the cry,
s and at last there was an awakening to the
I fact that public economy demanded good
! roads. Several of the States have now in ef-
feet laws regulating the building and i'm
e provement of rOads,and Georgia, New Jersey
:, and Massachusetts in particular, have made
!, great strides in opening the rural districts to
general travel. Now the farmers in many
= states have come to appreciate the fact that
q better roads mean a saving OF money to
u them in the direction of reducing the cost Of
# horse keep and the expense incident to the
j., wear and tear of wagons. To-day light car
u riages and bicycles can go with ease Ovel
= thousands of miles OF roads that only few
t; wears ago were closed to them. The improved
=, machines designed for the construction o
perfect roads and their preservation have re
duced the cost to figure that makes it pos
y sible for every county or State to do effectiv
" work in Iessening the burden OF road take
r and in securing better and more lasting re
suits. During recent test Ofthe pOssibilitie
of redeeming bad roads, stretch OF highwa,
IN in New Orleans, that could not be used, wa
transit r ned in one day into a highway tina
r. could be used with comfort by the hghtes
carriage or the rubber-tired hOrseless carr
age.
Ifevery county in the country should bull
from two to ten miles of new roads ever
,r- year. the result at the end ola decade, woul
40 be astounding, and the cost to the taxpay'
- would not be burdensOme. The suburbs
u all considerable cities in the country are no
'es enjoying the advantages OF so-called mOder
ed roads, although this country is simply gettir
N back to the old bodybuilding system vog'
, in the Old World five hundred or thOusaT
NJ years ago. Italy, France and England ha'
as the finest roads ever constructed, and maj
.tv of them were built long before the Unit
cit States were ever dreamed OF. Even POr
Rico had its national or military road ru
'is east and west through the island The peoI
in this country are awakening to the nee
he and necessities of better roads, and the wO
or goes on well. Delaware, however, still clin
to the old and senseles system of patchi
laI bad roads year after year, without maxi
lOt- any lasting showing for money expended.
der is just as much to the interests of the farm
his as it is to the bicycle rlaer ol sne 1--WE
lI- and level and always in perfect condition
MOrning News.