The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1904-11-26
THE GOOD-ROADS MOVEMENT

THE spread of the good roads move
features of life in this country in the
past decades. Previous to the last ten or
twelve years the farmer and the resi-
dent of the country town. except in II
few notably progressive sections, were
content with the old style country rog,d
that was at one time inches deep in dust
and a few days later feet deep in mud.
They had known nothing but such roads.
and if they had ever thought about the
question of good roads they believed
that the cost WAS prohibitive, and there
fore made no general demand for i'm
pr0vcmpnt. The coming of the bicycle
marked the beginning of the new era,
ard the spread of the bicycle craze re-
suited in the spread of the good roads
c;mi>aiglh Better roads were built here
.rd there at Il cost 80 small rs 10 as
tri'ish the country people, who ,onn
found THAT III" extra expense WIS more
tran offset by 'l' saving Oh wagons and
stock. The demand for cool road. in
all sections uf the country became great
CT and gre;tcr day by day. and State
ara local commissions were created to
deal with the question. Then the United
States Government took a hand. HE war
Department lending its engineers to solve
the problems Of road building and the
Department of Agriculture lending its
experts to investigate road building ma
tcrialS. etc. Next came the autemobilc
which could penetrate even farther into
til" rural districts than the bicycle. and
the good roads crusade was carried still
farther back into the counties. until To-
day the question of good roads is dis
cus>ed AND thoroughly diSsccted in every
section of the United States.
The good roads campaign in Maryland
has increased in warmth year by year.
and the fact that the good road now has
thousands of earnest supporters in this
State was demonstrated ut Annapolis
last winter, when the Legislature PASSED
a bill proposing ii Constitutional amend
ment which gives the State authorities
power to make appropriations to the
several counties for good roads work. If
the amendment is adopted. the impetus
to road building in Maryland will be
and very great. In the mean
timp bn,ynylr tho r,tiu r,ft St-,tn
have not idly awaited Statc aid. In all
sections many frst-cel<S rnadways have
been built within the last few years ont
of county funds. The Eastern Shore has |
many such roads and Southern Mary |
land and Western Maryland. ALSO Bal |
tmore cnllEty took n really advanced |
II competent engineer to take charge of |
the r;ld work. and under his SupcrviS- |
ion several miles of the very finest kind |
Of roads have been built. Baltimore
county is also taking the lead again I'M
der the special law passed by the
last Legislature allowing certain State |
~ ne NlNtItttl JoT IpUt1 bUllNlllp
purposes, and has requested that the
State Geological Survey Commission fur
nish the surveys for forty seven and
miles of roads to be i'm
proved. Caroline county is the latest
heard from in the spread of this move
ment. In the opinion of those who
understand the situation, there can be
no question which is of more vital i'm
portance to the people Of the State ut
large. and especially to the people who
live in the various counties, than this
question of good roads. and the fact THAT
ii good start has been made ON the i'm
provement of Marylaisl'S reads is one
on which the State and the counties
should be congratulated, even while they
are being urged to spend more money Oh
the public arteries of travel Baltimore
News.