Evening star., 1901-08-31
ROADS OF AMERICA.
PROGRESS in the Building Of Highway
in the Country.

Progress in the Building of Highways
in the Country.
From Gunton's Magazine.
The influence of the mechanical steed on
our civilization is best exemplified In the
growth and Improvement Of the country
highways, which, in country tnat
stretches between two oceans, and includes
within it's boundary nearly all the climates
and physical characteristics of mighty
continent, have been slowly evolved from
the almost indistinguishable trail OF the
pioneer settlers into roads Of high engineer
ing skill and achievement American coun-
try roads have Jagged in the development
of the nations material growth and expan-
sion until within the past few years. With
the exception of the few old post roads, es-
tablished 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, a score
of years ago in the United States.
Military roads We're the earliest in exist
ence In all countries. and the protective
necessity of having different parts of the
empire joined together by highways over
which an army could be quickly moved in
spired most of the great engineering feats
in road building of the past. This factor
had little 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. Conse-
quently no thought of establishing lines of
fortifications. connected by military high
ways. ever entered the head of our most
warlike legislators or Presidents. Mill
tary roads were not features of our ma
tional development. and though potent fac
tors in the growth Of many European
states. they were almost nil in American
history.
The modern road building movement is
attributed to the bicycle ard automobile;
but it must be said that it 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 it's limit; i'm
portant trunk lines were already paralleling
each other so that they cut disastrously
into each others profits; and the most i'm
portant parts of the country We're Joined
together by the ribbons of steel. Railroad
stocks were declining in value: profits were
being reduced. and capital was chary Of in
Vesting in new enterprises of this charac-
ter. What the country needed was more
feeders-country roads leading from FARMS
mines and producing lands. For months in
the year the great agricultural sections
were shut off from the railroads by almost
impossible country roads. Mills and man
ufacturtng plants located on streams of
water that furnished excellent motive
power could not market their products in
companies were likewise helpless in winter
Thus for good portion of the year the
country'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 sea-
son. impossible muddy roads made rural
life disagreeable in the extreme. Even the
small villages suffered and dwindled in
numbers and population. In the cities stone
winter: and thither our population focked
building for themselves habitable places
where they would not be shut indoors for
months at time
The bicycle, and later the automobile
spread propaganda of good road building
at time when conditions were ripe for a
mighty change. and the fire that smoldered
Tor 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 country life
With the new movement there commenced
counter-current in the trend of our pom
ulation cityward. The country was i'm
proved by good roads 50 that people who
had been shut up In the city now loneed
to return to the less artificial life in small
towns and villages. Rural existence sud
denly received new charms, and with the
extension of good highways there sprung
up handsome rural homes and estates The
love for country life has suddenly deyelOn-
ed so that it marks a new era in our ex-
istence. 1t is not that our cities are less
prosperous. or that they will cease to grow
in size and wealth. but that the country Ia
better appreciated as a place of residence
and that it has been made SO by the better
roads.