The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1904-10-20

II-I nIi;I question: OIL iOilu lulpiONe-
NI|l| r Hill ment has received good
IHs lA!!! deal of attention from the
Gl=sQ Legislators in the Eastern
States, notably in Massachusetts and
New Jersey. Careful study Of the road
question in these States soon developed
the fact tEa the counties and towns;
were doing little, and in many cases
nothing. and that the roads We're grad
ually becoming worse instead of bet
ter. In Massachusetts the idea was
first conceived of having the State and
civil subdivisions thereof cooperate in
the improvement of the roads. a State
law e,nbodying this principle was
adopted in New Jersey about the
same time as in Massachusetts,, and
for the last ten years remarkable pro-
sress has been made in these two
asates. Indeed. the principle of State
aid has become so popular within the
last few years that this same principle
has been enacted into law in the States
of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont,
Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York.,
Delaware and Pennsylvania, and the
idea is. being carefully, considered by
the legislatures of many Of the South
crn and Western States. . $780,. -
Mr.. NJ. O.. Eldridge. Assistant Direc-
tor, Office. Of Public Road Inquiries of
the United States Department of Ag-
riculture, recently made all inspection
trip thrugh the States Of Maine, Mas.
sachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut
and New York. In an interview Mr..
Eldridge had the following to say in,
regard to the road conditions in these
States:
II am fully convinced from my re-
cent trip that the roads which have
been built in the East through the aid
of the States and under the direction
of highway commissions are the best
roads in the United States, and are
equal, if not superior, to the best roads
in the world. This is due to the fact
that these roads have been built under
intelligent supervision, by skillful
workmen, out Of the very best mate
rials and with American road building
machinery, whereas most of the roads
that I have seen in the old country
were built by hand, and have since
been maintained in the same way. In
spite of the long drought which pre-
vailed throughout the New England
States during the spring and summer,
the State roads were firm and smooth.
and although I personally inspected
over 500 miles of improved roads, |
did not see a single one which had
rayeled, or which had signs of wear
from the recent dry weather. In the
southeastern part Of Massachusetts,
and along Cape Cod Bay. and in the
southern part Of Connecticut. the old
roads were composed entirely of sand,
but in spite of the dry weather. the
State roads built on these sand founda-
tions are remarkably hard and
smooth" ~
Mr.. Eldridge was asked If he
thought that the people Of the Eastern
States. who had already built some
good roads, and who have organized to
continue the work along the present
lines. would be willing to accept the
cooperation of the Government. They
have been building good roads for the
past ten years. yet the work of COM
pleting the system has just fairly
started. Even if the present plans
and liberal appropriations are contin-
ued, it will take many years to i'm
prove all the important highways in
these States. and consequently the peo-
ple are anxious to secure any addl-
tional aid possible. The State High
way Commissioners of Massachusetts,
Connecticut, New York and New Jer-
sey expressed themselves as being IN
favor of national aid, and I believe that
all good roads people in the Eastern
States are in favor Of it.
oS+ NToveyoont