The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1903-09-24
GOOD ROADS IN THE EAST
assistant Director Eldridge
says they are the Best in
the United States.

For the last ten year. the oue.tio, ~,
road improvement has received a good
deal Of attention from the Legislators in
ihe Eastern States. notably in Nassschus.
eits aud New Jersey. Careful stnd, Of
The road question ia these state. soon
Developed the fact that the countie. aud
towns were doing little and 10 many case.
nothing and that the roads we're rradusll,
becoming worse instead Of better l.,
Ans'aehusctis the idea was arst conceived
Of having the State and civil subdi,ision.
thereof cooperate in The Improvement Of
the roads. A State Law cmbodvinr this
principle vas adopted iu New Jersey about
TIE same time as in Massachusetis. and
Tor The last ten years remarkable prorre..
has heon made 30 these two State. In
deed The principle OF State aid has de-
come 30 popular ~ithin the last few wear.
that This same principle has been enacted
INTO law in the States of Maine. New
hampshire. Vermont. Rhode island. Con.
uecucut, New Y ork. Delaware aud Penn
s''Fauia, and the idea b. htinc CAREFUL,
considered hy the legislature Of manr ~
ihe >fatheru and Western States
Mr. N. %. tidridce. Assistant nirecto-
Office Of Public Road Inquiries II 49, n
= Department OF Agriculture. rccentir
MADE au inspection trip through tbr
Sisies of Maine. Massachusetts. Rhode
island, Connecticut aud New York h.
an Interview Mr. Eiiridge had The follow
."s '' cay in regard Co ihc road conditions
iu these States.
81 fully H.Hr.r..H
tuP that the roads which have been mil,
CO. the East Through ihe aid of the St.t-.
"nu under the direction OF highway conn
missions are The beet fuads iu the United
1'Hte"' ana are equal, ii not superior. 60
tue nest roads Boa the world. This is a..
20 the fact that these roads have h.,,
nuilt under intelligent supervision. b.,
sAuiiui workmcu, out OF the very hest
materials aud with American road hniiS- I
ins machinery, whereas most of the roads /
'uAi ! have seen 600 the old couutr,. uhere- 4
most OF the roads that I have seen in /
'Ne oia country we're built hy hand. and I
nave since been maintained Ia the same
way ln spite OF the long drought vb,ch
prevailed throughout the New F,ri.rS
states during the spring aud summer M.
: tate roads ~ere hrm and smooth .ra
although ! personally inspected over so0
n"es ei improved roads ] did not see
single one which had revealed OF wbirh
had signs OF wear from the recent A.,
: feather. 10 the s0uthcastcrn mart ofl
" massachusetts, and along Cape Cod Bav.
ma IN the southern part OF Connecticut
me Ola roads were composed entirely Of
.ano' nut in spite OF the drv weather the
state roads hsilt on these sand founs.- :
atoms are rcma rkahly hard and smooth %
NE. Lidriege wss asked # be tbougbt
n"t 'ne people % the eastern States. Whol
"a already hntlt some good rs,d- ana a
no haNe organized 90 continue the work 1
long the present lines, would D. wilior
2 accept assistance from the General
'o'ernment ga building roads - provided y
or IN the Brownlow billy
u believe. replied Mr. Eldridre ~,bat
be people OF the eastern States are 40 en-
aesiastic on She subject OF good rasas =
lat they would be glad 20 accent the co. \.
peratiou 81 the Government Tie, have =
cen building good roads for the past ten !,
'Srs' yet the work OF completing che svs-
'm has Just fairly started Even ii AZ.
resent plans and liberal appropri.to,s :.
'e continued u will take many years 10
'ProNe All the Important highways in
lsse states aud consequently the peopls :
y enAious 70 secure any additional I'D
'ssibie. The state Highway Commis- :
o1ers Of Massachusetts,. Ccnneeticnt
e~ York and New Jersey expressed
e saseltes a. bcing IN isyor Of National
aoc believe that all the good roads
opie IN The Esstern States are ia favor