The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1906-05-10


Colonel w. l.. Dickinson.
At the recent annual meeting of tie
Springfield (AIass.l Automobile club
Colonel ". l.. Dickinson, chairman of
the executive committee Of the New
York and Chicago Road association,
spoke Us follows on the movement for
continuous good roads, says the Munic-
ipal Journal and Engineer:
The movement for better reads is
gradually spreading over the entire
country. Their valre is SO universally
understood that undoubtedly within
<few years nearly every state in the
Union VII have taken some action
toward improving its highways. The
good example set by those eastern
states which have given state aid has
been followed until seventeen states
OF the Union have taken steps in imi-
tation Of these pioneers. | do not mean
TO say that all Of the seventeen have
made large appropriations of money,
but they have all provided some state
authority to have jurisdiction in the
matter OF road Improvement.
During the past few years we have
been building short stretches of good
roads to demonstrate the value of such
roads. Their value has been fully. es-
tablished, and their cost cannot be
compared with the great benefits de-
rived. The time has now arrived when
we should connect these short stretches
of roads to make continuous good
roads or trunk lines leading across the
country in various directions, giving
first class roads to the various centers
Of trade, which will particularly Gene-
fit the rural districts.
"Hon. James III. Macdonald of Con-
necticut is the first state highway COM
missioner to recommend state appro-
priation for connecting these links to
make continuous good roads. An APP
preparation for this purpose has been
made by the Connecticut legislature.
with continuous good road farm
ers can haul their products to market
with great saving of horses, vehicles
and time as compared with poor road
or enc which has short sections in good
repair with most of it in poor condi-
ton. A perfectly good road enables
them to deliver their products at any
time and take advantage of a fayora-
BILE market.
1.-THE benefits derived from continu-
Gus good roads are Of great CONNER
cial value to the country, affecting all
branches of trade. Reducing the cost
Of transportation of our products to
market results in a reduction of the
cost of these products to the consumer.
A large percentage Of the freight car
ried by the railroads and on our water
ways is first hauled over our common
roads All transportation companies
should be greatly interested in the con-
struction of well built roads, capable
Of being used at all seasons and in all
weathers, as such roads would assist
in preventing congestion and in equal
izing their freight traffic.
''In large cities where roads are good
the motor truck is rapidly superseding
the dray horse. 1t is cheaper, more
convenient, more efficient, more hui
name and more clearly. Large motor
trucks are used for freighting purposes
and the delivery automobile is used by
merchants to deliver their goods. Ex-
press companies use them to collect
and deliver express matter. Under fair
conditions they everywhere seem to
perform their work with convenience
and efficiency. In the west the farmer
uses the traction engine to pillow, har-
row and seed his land and cut his
grain. With the great improvements
that are constantly being made in the
manufacture Of motor vehicles it is
fair to assume that the day is not far
distant when they will be used by the
farmer to carry his products to mar
ket The motor vehicle is certainly al
ready success, and how long a list
OF other important uses the future will
show no one can predict. The automo-
bilist and the farmer should get to-
gether and work for good roads
There is growing sentiment
throughout the country that the federal
government should appropriate money
to assist in building trunk lines Of
roads. Large sums of money have been
expended by the national government
to improve our waterways, to encour-
age the building Of trunk lines of rail-
roads and to build roads in the Philip
pines. 1t would seem as if public con-
yenience and necessity demanded that
the same government should equally
assist in the internal development Of
our country by improving the high
ways. 1t seems strange that a country
which leads the world in progressive
ness should allow it's roads to get into
such deplorable condition, ours be-
ing the only civilized country that
has neglected its highways. European
countries have national systems Of
roads, the best features of which could
well be copied by this country to it's
great advantage.
1.-THE different elements favorable to
improving our highways should unite
49, II H.