Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-08-28
GOOD ROADS MOVEMENT.

This country does not begin to spend
the amount of money upon its public
highways as is lavished on the CON
struction or maintenance of the public
ronds of England add European couns
tries. While this country leads the
world in its railroads and street rail-
ways it is far behind most countries
across the Atlantic in its system Of
public highways. England and Wales
spend annually $50, 100000 on their
roads; Ireland, $4,000, o00; France,
s3I, 800, GOO, while the United States,
the pioneer of all nations in public
Improvements, the leader of the world
in devising and perfecting plans to add
to the comfort and welfare of mankind,
lags in the race with the disgraoeful
record of spending but $40, 600 upon its
Federal plan of public road improve
ment This does not include. of course,
the annual expenditures of the various
States of the Union. Ii these sums
we're included the comparison would
not be SO unfavorable, for there will be
expended this year close on to $40, 000,-
0OO throughout the country for the
betterment of public highways More
over, the outlook for the future is ex-
ceedingly bright. The possibilities are
combined expenditures of the Fedora
Government and the various States will
equal 500, GOO, 600 year for the con-
struction and maintenance of public
highways.
There are fully 200 good roads or
CARNATIONS, national, State and
county. The association that is doing
the most work for the betterment Of
highways throughout the country is
that known as the American Road
Makers. The membership of this assoc
citation is limited to 10 influential men
in each State. For this reason the
membership is selected with tie utmost
care 70 secure not only those who ate
advocates of good roads, but those who
have large means as we'll. 1t has
opened up the campaign in fohr Sec
tions of the country: The East, the
Middle West. the West and the South.
The campaign in the East is under the
direction of Hon. Edward A. Bond,
State Engineer of New York, who is
the first vice president of the assooia
ton; the Middle West is looked after
by Hon. H. S. Earle, State Senator OF
Michigan; the Western division is
under the direction of Judge r. II.
Thompson of Seattle, Wash, and that
of the South under the direction Of
Judge E. s. Vasmer of Houston, Tex.
A unique campaign is now being
conducted in the State of Michigan by
Senator Earle. The Senator has
equipped a good road train, consisting
of traction engine, five small cars for
carrying stone and stone crushing
plant, all OF which is drawn by the
traction engine, which is also converted
into road roller and is employed in
finishing the road. This good roads
train is now at work. Its recent stops
being at Greenville and BayCity, Mich,
it will make tour of the lower penin-
sula and construct some 20 samples Of
roads throughout the State under the
auspices of the American Road Makers.
Last year several counties in the State
of Michigan expended over 5000, 600 on
road improvements and this year more
than that amount will be expended.
When New Jersey, which was the
pioneer State in the good roads move
ment, first began to improve its roads
it cost $40, 900 per mile. They are now
being constructed for $1,000 to 50, 900
per mile, most of them costing only
81, 800. This is due to the greater knowl-
edge and practical experience gained by
the road builders as we'll as by the use Of
improved machinery and methods. In
Michigan, Ohio and other Western
States, roads are being constructed at
much less figure, some Of them cost
ing not more than $1,000. As might
be expected these roads are not as
| durable as those upon which greater
amount of money is expended. New
York pays about IS, 600 to 81, 900 mile
~ nd
structed road out of crushed stone,
under the direction of the State engi-
neer, and in accordance with a State
aid plan, which provides that the State
shall pay 80 per cent of the cost of the
construction of the roads, 80 per cent
is paid by the county and 10 per cent
by the town in which the road is inn
proved. Connecticut and Massachusetts
both have admirable methods for i'm
proving their highways and have long
been recognized as among the most
| progressive States in the Union in this
regard, each expanding $500, 900 year
on the improvement mt of its roads.
The State of Georgia is, perhaps,
the most progressive among the
Southern States. For a number Of
years it has employed large amount
of prison labor in the construction of
its roads, using prisoners, both black
| and white, in crushing stone and in
constructing the roads. This system of
employing prison labor has been SO
successfully carried cut that it has
been adopted for other States. '.This
movement for the betterment OF our
public highways is not a fad that will
pass away in short time, but an i'm
provement which is demanded by more
than 5000, 600 farmers in the United
States" said Gen. Roy Stone, who
was lately connected with The Agri-
cultural Department at Washington.
THE average cost of transportation
from the farms to the nearest market
or railroad over bad roads is not less
than 20 cents Per ton per mile; on
good roads about one third of this, or
: cents per ton per mile. Therefore,
it follows that each cent by which the
cost of carrying ton a mile is reduced
is added to the farmer profit without
having added to the price. -
A careful estimate of the farm
products of Pennsylvania places the
aggregate amount Of $500, 600 tons,
half of which is consumed on the farm
and the balance is hauled an average
of five miles to market. Assuming
that a two horse team makes two trims
per diem at cost of 81. so per day the
cost of movement on clay or macadam
roads will vary as follows:
! Macadam
Clay Road Road.
No, of loads for the q $50, OOO. i,6430OO 2ssL60O
Cost at 81 .25 per load 7CS75 S. T26 $50
| Saving by reducing the surface resist
,9IT 800
This is the waste entailed upon the
farmers products by clay roads. 1t
is enough to keep in repair 30, 600