The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-05-07
THE GOOD ROADS coNVEN-
TON.

of Congress, approprlatlnS a suo-
stantial sum from the Federal
Treasury to be used, in co.opera-
ton with the States and Terrific.
ries, in road improvement. The
extent to which the Federal Gov
crnment should aid in road max
ing is debatable question. is
urged in support of the Brown
low bill that road improvement,
assisted by the National Govern.
ment, is a corollary of the adop-
tion and extension of the free ru.
raj delivery of mail; that road
building is an international inn
provement which the National
Government may engage in for
the same reason that it improves
rivers and harbors. Itls urged,
too, that theGovernment has aid
ed the railroads constructed in
the West, and that the Govern
ment is now building roads in
our new possessions, and that
long ago it committed itself at
home to the policy by construct
ing the great national road from
the coast TO the Mississippi.
Aside from the consideration
of the Brownlow bill, many pa
pers will be read at the conven-
ton on the general subject Of
good roads and the methods by
which they can be secured. The
appropriation of 6,500,000 for
road improvement in Pennsylva-
MIA is regarded as the greatest
advance yet made in the matter
of State aid for roads. This ac-
tiOn is expected TO stimulate the
good roads movement through
out the country, and it doubtless
Will have an exemplary effect up
on states which have been slow
to act in aid of the greatest of
public utilities. Colonel w. II.
Moore, president of the National
Good Roads Association, in an ad-
dress delivered before the Good
Roads Congress held at Buffalo
in 1901, said that the common
roads of the country carry 90 per
cent. of all the com merce that
comes from the farm, before it
can reach a railroad train or boat,
and he drew the conclusion that
vast benefit must accrue TO com
merce from the improvement of
/ the common roads.
One Of the most striking evi-
dences of the civilization reached
by Rome are the remains of her
/ great highways. 1t is said that
| $4,000 miles of roadways were
built by the Romans, structures
which in their decay are the envy
of the modern road builders. 1t
is a reflection on the American
name that in the older states,
which have been organized com
munities for more than two cen.
turies, there are thousands OF
miles of roads that are practical.
ly in no better condition now
than they were in the early days.
In Pennsylvania there are thous
ands of miles of roadway main
tanned in no better fashion thar
they were at the beginning of the
last century. The Road act pass
ed by the last Legislature will, j,
properly appreciated and applied
work a transformation in roaC
construction throughout th'
State. The value, convenience
and pleasure of good roads ar
admitted. They improve socia
conditions in the countryside ant
invite residence there. The con
dition of the roadways in an,
neighborhood is an unfalling slgl
of its progress. The organiza
: ton of good roads associations
, local, State, national and interna
tional, is doing excellent work i
spreading information, excitiu
. interest and securing needfr
legislation respecting the move
ment. Public Ledger.
SLAVERY IN NEW ENGLAND.