The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1901-11-21
ROADS OF AMERICA.
Progress In the building Of High
ways Has Not been as slow
as Many suppose.


The influence of the mechanical
steed on our civilization is best exem-
plified in the growth and improve
ment of the country highways, which,
in country that stretches between
two oceans, and includes within its
boundary nearly all the climates and
physical characteristics of mighty
continent, have been slowly evolved
from the almost indistinguishabl
trail of the pioneer settlers into roads
of high engineering skill and achieve
ment. American country roads have
Jagged in the development of the ma
tion's material growth and expansion
until within the past few years. With
the exception of the few old post
roads, established in colonial days,
when the stage coach was the only
vehicle for comfortable travel, there
were not more than two or three
country highways of passable physi-
cal condition, summer and winter,
score of years ago in the United
States.
Military roads were the earliest in
existence in all countries. and the
protective necessity of having differ
ent parts of the empire joined togeth-
er by highways over which an army
could be quickly moved inspired most
of the great engineering feats in road
building in the past. This factor had
little or no influence in American in
dustrial life. Our boundaries did not
abut those of other powerful nations
with whom we might at any time
wage war Consequently no thought
of establishing lines of Notifications,
connected by military highways, ever
entered the head of our most warlike
legislators or presidents. Military
roads were not features of our ma
tional development. and though po-
tent factors in the growth of many
European states, they were almost
nil in American history.
The modern road building move
ment is attributed to the bicycle and
automobile; but it must be said that
il was rather the conditions of the
times, which were ripe for the change,
that made the popularity of these
mechanical steeds. Railroad con-
struction had almost reached its linn
it; important trunk lines were al
ready paralleling each other so that
they cut disastrously into each 9TH
er S profits; and the most important
parts of the country were joined to-
gether by the ribbons of steel. Rail-
road stocks were declining in value;
profits were being reduced, and cap
ital was chary of investing in new
enterprises of this character. What
the country needed was more feeders
country roads leading from farms,
mines and producing lands. For
months in the year the great agri-
cultural sections were shut off from
the railroads by almost impossible
country roads. Mills and manufac-
turing plants located on streams of
water that furnished excellent motive
ucts in winter. The logging camps
and the mining companies were like
wise helpless in winter. Thus for a
good portion of the year the coun-
try's commerce was paralyzed, and |
the producing centers were cut off |
from the world.
We rapidly grew into a nation of |
cities as a consequence. There was
little attraction in the country except |
in the summer season. Impossible
muddy roads made rural life disagree
able in the extreme. Even the small
villages suffered and dwindled in
numbers and population. In the cit
les stone pavements detied the mud
and storms of winter; and thither
our population flocked, building for
themselves habitable places where
they would not be shut indoors for
at a time.
The bicycle, and later the automo-
bile, spread a propaganda of good
road building at time when condi-
lions were ripe for mighty change,
md the fire that smoldered for time
soon broke forth into flame. There
was need of better highways to i'm
prove trade, to develop the country
and to add to our appreciation Of coun-
try life. With the new movement there
a counter-current in the
.rend of our population cityward.
The country was improved by good
'oads so that people who had been
'hut up in the city now longed to re-
urn to the less artificial life in small
owns and villages. Rural existence
suddenly received new charms, and
With the extension of good highways
here sprung up handsome rural
ZONES and estates. The love for
country life has suddenly developed
20 that it marks a new era in our
existence. 1t is not that our cities
ire less prosperous, or that they will
ease TO grow in size and wealth; but
hat the country is better appreciated
rs place of residence, and that it
las been made so by the better roads.
-Gunton's Magazine.