The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1901-03-07
seMssscss:
G06d Roads R0tss

ability of system in road


"I HE Governor in his message
wisely emphasizes the desjr-
ability of system in road
building He would have the
old State roads reopened and others
constructed. so that the improved
highways would form continuous
lines. traversing county after county
throughout the whole extent of the
State Such roads would, of course,
connect the principal cities and large
towns of the various counties and COR
respond somewhat to trunk lines of
railroad. giving good travelling from
town to town and from county to
county, and each would greatly con-
duce to the development of the COM
munitles along It's route aud to the
founding of new ones. The Governor
seems to think 1t appropriate that the
State itself should take the initiative
In the building or such roads. because
they will serve general and not merely
local interests, and II is probably de-
sirable that they should be constructed
first of all.
Such roads. however. will not as the
Governor makes plain, answer the
whole need. There must be a multi.
plicity of cross roads and side roads
connecting different parts of the same
towns and villages, and these are no
less important that the others. All
the people do not live on the main
roads by any means. Many man
will drive over Il side road to the vii.
lage. or from one part of the town to
another, ahundred times for every sin
gle time when he will drive to the next
town or the next county on the main
highway. IL would be most Illogical
and unjust to say that while inter.
county and intcrtown traffic shall have
good roads intracounty and intra-
town traffic shall continue to wallow
in dust and mud. This latter system
Of local roads is therefore as essential
as the former. But. unlike the for.
mer, II may properly, and indeed
should. he left to local initiative and dl-
rection
We should have. then. two distinct
yet connected and harmonious sys-
TENS of roads. One would comprise
such great highways as the old Al
bany Post Road. along the eastern
bank OF the Hudson River. and the
Boston Post Road, sklrting the Sound.
The other would consist of intersect-
ing roads, gridironing each county
and town. The State roads might well
he made of extra width and he con.
nf tIsnI fnl, to
bly, the best road metal in the world,
after the most approved plan Of Tel
ford and Macadam. There Is enough
trap in the talus OF the Palisades and
in the quarries of Rockland County
to build such roads from Montauk
Point to Niagara Falls, and the dis
tribution of it to nearly all points
would be cheap and easy. Granite,
however, might also be used, espe-
clally in combination with limestone.
The local roads might largely be
constructed OF local material at much
less cost and yet be practically as SER
viccablc as the others. Limestone.
which is so widely distributed through
out the state, makes an admirable
iOeb a. properly hSShs HOlllc
II to trap or granite because it is soft
or and therefore easier for the horses
hoofs. Some villages in Westchester
County have provided themselves with
capital roads by using the refuse chips
and dust from the marble and lime
stone quarries of that region. Again,
deposits Of powders and gravel are to
be found in almost every county, and
road built of broken powders with
top-dressing OF selected gravel comes
pretty close TO the best standard.
But. whatever the material. all the
roads OF both systems should be built
according 10 well devised and consist
ent plans, so that we shall be spared
the sight, now too often visible of Il
fine bit of road mile or two long run
ming from nowhere to nowhere" or
from slough to slough York
Tribune.