The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-01-16
GOOD ROADS

! The good roads movement in the
United States which was begun few
years ago is showing splendid results,
and the wonder is that pe ple wer- ever
contented to have poor roads. The ne
cessity and importance Of good road
ways appeals to everybody. Even men
# obtuse intcllects realize it. The good
lads movement in Connecticut has
gone forward in a most satisfactory
! way and is still going forward, seeking
! new towns to conquer. Hundreds of
miles Of poor roads in our little State
| have Deen converted into good roads,
and many more arc to be improved this
] year. In various other States much
good work of the kind has been done.
, And now the subject is to receive ma
ti0nal attention owing to bill which
Mr. BroWnloW, of Tennessee (Wonder if
he is any relative of the late ParsOn
BroNnlow of war days?), has introduce
ed into the House of Representatives
The object of his bill is to create in the
Department of Agriculture a bureau Of
public roads. This measure is attract
ing considerable attention. 1t costs
something to build good roads, but they
soon pay for themselves. Mr., Brown
lows bill provides for a director Of the
bureau of public roads with a corps of
engineers and other officials whose
duty it will be to cooperate, assist and
instruct in the building Of public roads
in the various States where the local
authorities may apply for such aid.
Where there is an application for the
construction of a road, if it be approx
ed by the director, then he is to have it
mapped and surveyed, and then the
United States is to award contract
for the work and pay one-half the cost,
the State, county or individuals to pay
construction the bill appropriates $780,
100000 of which no State shall receive
in aid of construction u greater pro-
portion than its population bears to the
total population of the United States.
Also an international conference on
the good roads subject is called to be
held in Detroit February IS and IA next
1t is called to be held in connection
with the annual meeting Of the Ameri-
can Road Makers. and representatives
from several Mexican Stat es the Prov
ince of Canada and every State in the
Union will be present. The general
topics for discussion will be, first, the
proposed plan for -capital-connect-
ing improved highways in the United
States, Canada and Mexico, to be con-
structed and maintained by the coop
GRAFTON of the federal, State. county and
township governments; and, second, the
BroWnlow bill above spoken Of. In
view of the great Importance and mag
nitude of the subject, it has been
thought advisable by the executive
committee of the American Road Max
ers to assemble this international con-
ference, which will be composed of pub
lie officials and prominent good roads
advocates, and President Roosevelt,
who has expressed hearty sympathy
with the movement, has been invited
to be the Road Makers guest on this
occasion and to deliver the principal
address. Many distinguished men have
already accepted invitations to attend.
Automobile club associations and SINH
lar bodies are included in the invita-
lions, together with State and county
good roads organizations.
The good roads movement has Ger
tainly grown to important dimensions,
and it is gratifying to note that Con-
necticut was one Of the four pioneer
States in this movement and in carry
ing on the good work, New Jersey, Mas
sachusetts and New York being the
others.