The Republican journal., 1902-05-08
GOOD ROADS.


A Plea from the Pine Tree state.
The New York Tr-W eekly Tribune is
offering prizes to the pupils in high
schools throughout the nlted states for
essays on the subject of good roads
the essays to be addressed to the Gov
ernor of contestant S State. The Tribune
of April 2Sth contained the following
essay written by a member of the Sen
ior class, Belfast High School.
To His Excellency, }. F. Hill, Cover
nor of Maine:
Permit me to call your attention to a
question of vital Importance to the resi-
| dents of the rural districts of this State
| speak concerning the improvement of
country roads, 1t is we'll known that
| within the last few years there has
| been decided reduction III the rural
| population. and corresponding de-
crease in the value of property. This
is due in large measure to the poor con-
| dition of the roads, as the cost of trans
yortation is so high that but little profit
remains to the farmer 10y The time his
, produce reaches the market. Time is
| precious to the farmer, and he is com
| PEELED to make two. perhaps three,
/ loads of what his horses could easily
! haul in one load over good roads. Then,
! too, these roads have a most paralyZln9
| effect upon the social life of a commu-
/ nifty; for rather than travel through the
| mud to visit a neighbOr, or attend any
| pubic entertainment, the people re-
/ mann at home, seldom meet their
/ friends, and finally either move away in
disgust or stay where they are, dlSSatlS-
! fled, discouraged and lonely.
/ l he present road system fails in every
! way to adapt itself to the advanced
t agricultural necessities. We have i'm.
/ proved our buildings, stock and farm
/ Ing implements - everything but oul
| roads. The chief reason for this is that
! the surveyor Of roads does not under
stand the task placed before him. Here
| II anywhere, is needed a person thor
! Oughly acquainted with his work. and
| who understands clearly the need OF
/ economy. This matter of road con
/ structlon has for hundreds of years
! been lett with the town to dispose Of
! Certainly there can be no doubt that
! the town has been given a thorough
trial of its powers and has miserably
! failed. Where, then, shall we look fol
i help: The county is not highly organ
lZed enough to be of any appreciable
| benefit, the so-called county road be
| ing little if any, better than the ordi
nary town roads SO there is no way OF
etfecting the desired improvement ex.
cept through the aid of the State In
all cases of road or bridge building in
which this department has been called
upon to assist the work has been done
III thorough, substantial and ecoEomi
cal manner.
| In the country we cannot hope to
have expensive macadamiZed roads, yet
1t does seem as if we might have some
thing more respectable than our pres
ent apologies for roads. However if
we can judge by the experience of the
past, there will be no marked change
until the State legislature takes some
, action in regard to the matter Ii the
state would contribute little money
to aid the towns in securing some COM
petent person to oversee the work, pass
law prohibiting the use of narrow
wheel tires for heavy loads, and insist
on an ordinary amount of common
sense in road construction, a great
change would soon be apparent, and
America would no longer deserve her
reputation of possessing the worst
roads of any civilized nation.
MARGARET f. Billings,
Belfast, Me, age eighteen.