The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-07-21

and west, crossing at right angles. This
method Of locating roads is sometimes
called 'the checker board system" and
the term is quite appropriate. In some
States the road laws contemplate the
| establishing of road on every Sec
tion line, so they will be only one mile
apart. but not nearly all these roads
have been actually opened
In comparison with the system, or
lack of system, which prevails in the
! older settled States of the East and
South, this checker board system has
some advantages. The roads are not
left to be located at hap-hazard, or Gil
crooked farm boundaries, or accord
ing to the whims or selfish interests Of
the focators. The order and mathe-
matical regularity Of the system ma
turally appeals to the minds of those
who read about those roads or study
them on maps, but to those who actu-
ally travel them, their location appears
to be very far short Of ideal perfec.
ton. In fact the system involves two
very grave defects. If man wishes
to travel directly north, south, east or
west. these roads take him by the
shortest route. But a large majority
of the people wish to travel in other
directions. Let us suppose 4 man lives
exactly ten miles northwest from his
country seat. In order to reach it he
must travel seven miles east and seven
miles south, or fourteen miles in all.
Thus a majority Of travellers suffer
q hardship in the matter Of distance.
But the second defect in the system
IS far Graver. The mathematical pre-
cision with which these roads are
located carries them across hills and
hollows without any regard to econ
omy in the matter Of grades. Where
tine country is perfectly level there is
no difficulty; where it is rolling the
roads can only be improved at heavy
cost in making cuts and fills; where
there are steep hills and deep ravines
to cross the system is wholly imprac-
t:cable.
Doubtless one Of the first benefits
that will follow the adoption Of the
national plan will be the modification
of this system so as to remedy these
defects in large measure. Naturally
the first roads to be improved in a
county will be those leading directly
north, south, east and west from the
county seat. Then main roads or av-
enues leading northeast, northwest.
southeast and southwest from the
county seat should be opened and i'm
proved. Thus the first defect shall be
largely eliminated.
The second defect pointed out can
only be cured by departing from the
section lines where the lay of the
road makes it economical to do so.
Under national ard State aid compe-
tent engineers will be employed to
correct errors of location, so as to in
crease the usefulness Of the roads, and
at the same time reduce their cost.
The sentiment for national aid Is
making great headway in this part Of
the country. In Nebraska the Legis-
lature has declared in favor of it.
Several members Of Congress from
Missouri are outspol:en advocates of
the plan. In Illinois State Commits
sion has been appointed 70 investigate
and report on national aid. In num-
Der of other States definite action will
probably be taken in the near future.
No "Graft!"
Congress has no more widely useful
measure Of domestic legislation in
hand that is contemplated in the bill
put forward by Representative Brown
low and Senator Gallinger to give ma
tional aid to the good roads movement.
The plan is to make liberal appro-
priation which will be available for
the payment of half the cost Of build
ing new roads, the other half to be
paid by the State, county or local po-
litical division benefited by the i'm
provement. The authors Of this de-
sign pointed out in addresses to the
Automobile Club that the general gov
ernment, which has spent $2,000,O0o in
the Philippines and S1,500,000 in Porto
Rico on road building, could properly
do something in that line for the Amer
lean farmer. AS $3.50, 100000 has been
spent on rivers and harbors since
the Civil War, they suggest it is time
to make facilities for land travel also
q matter of federal concern.
There is no doubt that the Ameri-
can farmer directly, and the whole
people indirectly, would gain much by
the stimulus the good roads move
ment would receive from federal
appropriation sharing with the State
half the cost of new roadways. There
is only one argument against putting
tn plan quickly into effect, and that
is the danger of opening the way to
extravaganza in appropriations and
graft" in their expenditure. If the
American people could have assurance
not to say insurance, against turning
tbo ,,IoD fo tho odvantapa of rock loss