The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-05-22
ADvANT AGES OF GOOD ROADS.
Compiled From the Report of the Mary
land Geological Survey-"High-
ways of Maryland

That good roads have many advan-
tages is statement that will provoke
no contradiction, but many people
look upon good roads as a luxury far
beyond their means. 1t is worth
while to show that the luxury of good
roads is but one, and perhaps the
least important, of their advantages,
and the most valuable benefit is an
economical one, resulting from pecu-
mary gain and savings which they
cause.
Good roads, canals and navigable
rivers, by diminishing the expense of
carriage, put the remote parts of the
country more nearly upon a leyel
with those in the neighborhood of a
town. They are upon that account
the greatest of all improvements"
So wrote Adam Smith in 1776.
Civilization advances by the devel-
opment of industries, the raising of
the standard of living, the increase of
the comforts and conveniences of life
and the elevation of morals. A coun-
try sufficiently receptive to adopt i'm
provements in these various direc-
tons wherever they may be found
will advance rapidly in civilization.
Different parts of the same country
may be so isolated from each other as
to be in very different degrees of civ
ilization; but t his could not be the
case if easy and frequent intercourse
existed. The ordinary intercourse
within the limits of neighborhood
depends upon the roads.
In 1891 the U. s. Department of
State published reports of American
consuls regarding the streets and
highways of many foreign countries.
From England it is safe to say that
land values are improved; that agri-
cultural, commercial and manufac-
turing industries are materially bene-
fitted through the operation of good
public roads in the country. There
can be no question but that the great
industries owe much of their develop
ment and prosperity to the excellent
roads, ETC." From Scotland Roads
are the life and necessity and hope of
all Scottish industries, and their value
increases rather than diminishes with
railroad extension. Property would,
without them, be comparatively
valueless." From Belgium: Roads
compete with with railroads. Wagons
bring merchandise from Brussels go
niles or Antwerp (72 miles, to Liege,
and one horse pulls an enormous load.
Dog-carts come to Liege, - or Is
miles, laden with farm products" In
France the material development of
the country has been attributed to it's
splendid roads.
Prof. Richard 7. Ely writes: 1.-THE
great French reformer, Turgot, turn
ed his attention first of all to the Or
binary public roads and demonstrated
the advantage of first-class highways.
There can be no doubt that the ex-
cellent roads he constructed were one
important cause of the prosperity of
Limoges"
The large sums of money spent an
nually in foreign countries for the
maintenance of the roads England
and Wales, $20,00O,0 200; Ireland, 49,
100000; France, $27, 800, 0OO) shows the
immense Importance which is there
attached to this subject and there is
no indication of any retrenchment.
Much has been said of the increase
in the value of farm lands due to the
introduction of good roads. Mr.. Ed
ward Burroughs, formerly Road Com
missioner of New Jersey, says there is
only one voice on the subject, and
that is that they would not 60 back
to the old roads under any conditions.
No farmer in the neighborhood would
buy a farm not located on the
macadam road. Now that they have
a sample of the road they all want it.
Mr.. Charles E. Mcbride, of Eliza
beth, writes OF the improved roads in
Union county, New Jersey, as follows:
1.-THE costs and expenses of these mag
nificent roads are easily computed.
The total outlay of the Board of
Freeholders has been nearly $3.50, 900.
and there is now nearly 40 miles of
telford and macadam road in the
county. The figures are not in excess
of what was expected, thus showing
that the manage of the financial part
had been as discreet as the prepara-
tory work.
But the question will arise at
once, has this expense of nearly So
600 a mile proved wise as well as
beneficial? Good roads are of course
good things; but do they pay? The
answer may in part be found in the
fact that the property in Union
county has actually appreciated in
value far more than the cost of the
roads; and this not only in cases of
sale or exchange, but upon the tax
levy.
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