The daily Republican., 1902-12-02
THE MOVEMENT
FOR GOOD ROADS.
Interesting Addresses Before
the Farmers Institute at
Newark Yesterday.

| Newark. Dec. 1.-The discussion
at the afternoon session OF the Far IN
ers' Institute yesterday Of the motion.
'1t is the sense OF this meeting
that 20 per cent OF the money now
raised annually by each hundred for
road purposes shall be reserved to be
used In the construction of permanent
road BEDS was an interesting one.
DR.. Neale, who presented the reso-
luton, cOntended that something
must be done as the roads are getting
worse.
"Taxpayers in New Castle County
vii! rise ia their Indignation before
long and demand legislation that
will cause good roads to be built
A general discussion followed, dur
ing which leading farmers expressed
their views.
"The dirt roads of New Castle
County, are getting worse. said one.
"Graye! and oyster shells on the roads
in the lower part of the State have
been found to work advantageously."
TIE resolution was tabled for future
consideration.
At the conclusion of the debate the
Institute was treated to an address
by II. l. Budd OF New Jersey which
showed the workings Of the good
roads act in that State.
lie SAID in part that this act was
very unpopular at first aud was bitter.
ly fought. but its foundation " as due
to tho efforts OF the most progressive
farmers of the State. The act came
about by an agitation Of the move
ment in Farmers Clubs, Oranges and
county boards Of agriculture and the
discussion resulted in resolutions
VIII ich required the State Board of
Agriculture to advoc ate laws by
which the cost was distributed among
individuals, counties and State.
when the State Board was for
mulating these laws, the bicycle in-
terest was approaching a high de-
gree OF development. This served
to add increased interest, and thus
it came about that New Jersey has
the honor OF belug the first State to
successfully persuade the construc-
tionIof good roads by appropriations
from thG state treasury.
1.-The State Aid Act recognizes
the fact that the roads belong to
the general public irrespective OF
where they live. 1t provides by
resolution tha board of free h old
ers can declare its intentions to i'm.
prove any highway or when the
property owners aloug certain
road desires its improvements.
''Duriag the three years of '92,
'93 and '94, !" said Mr.. Budd, "thers
were seventvfve miles of road i'm.
proved. During the year OF '95
there were forty-six miles improved,
h!ty-one miles in '96; sixty-six miles
in 81; eighty-four miles Ia '9S; one
hundred and fifteen in '99; eighty
four in 1900 one hundred and ten
miles in 1901; and 10 1892 over two
hundred aud twenty Hour miles of
road have been built.
THE antagonism OF the people at
the first has been suppressed. This
has been changed into a desire tor
more improvements which now
amount to 600 mlea at the estimat-
ed cost of s., 500, 600 Many Of the
counties are building as many miles
each year as the limit Of the law,
one-lourth OF one per cent. tax on
the taxables will allow"
Nh Budd asked the question whv
stone and gravel roads should be-
built, aud answering this, sail re-
pairs on common wagon roads cost
enough to make hard roads of them |
and added that after being repair
ed they We're generally worse at
the end of few months than thew
were before. Dirt roads, he said
could not be otherwise than bad |
during a large portion Of the year.
The rain percolates through the
soil, renders them soft in winter
and dry weather generally makes
them dry III summon. "Therefore,"
said Mr.. Budd, bad roads are !
constant tax. The cost of hard roads |
under the state aid law is bearabIe
by most any community, as is evi-
dent by the fact that those commun-
tiles which have received tho bene-
fit of the law are the most clamor-
Ous for more. Communities receive
direct benefits by inducing new set
Elements, thus increasing the valu 9
of property; by arresting the ten
deuCy to cluster in the cities
''lmproved roads make improved
schools possible for the children.
Close coordination between I'M.
proved roads and education cannot
be too strongly impressed upon the
public attention. The ambition OF
every rural district to place school
house in every valley and Oh every
hilltop resulted in mediocre accomo.
daLlons and poor instruction. Good
roads ALLOW ccntraiizatlon and com.
bination. making trave! so easy that
distance is no longer an object. Bv
means Of bicycles and wagons the
children are quickly carried to CEN
tral schools, thus enabling country
to have graded schools, ia
which efficient teachers and compe.
titi0n give the same life and spirit
that has long prevailed in the cities.
The question of what benefits
these roads have upon the State
was next referred to by the speaker
and he pointed out that conditions
we're much better in the sections
boastlng Of good roads. The value
Of real estate has been improved in
these sections, he said, and the
farmers especially are reaping the
benefit