Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1906-04-07
FROSTBURG, Md, SATURDAY, APRIL Z, 1906.
CONTINUOUS ROADS.
tALue OF UNITING SHORT STRETCHES
OF GOOD HIGHWAYS.

OF GOOD HIGHWAYS.
A Review OF the Present Conditions
and IA Demonstration of the Neccs-
sity For Improvement ns stated by
Colonel W. l.. Dickinson.
At the recent annual meeting of the
Springfield (MasSD Automobile club
Colonel w. l.. Dickinson, chairman OF
the executive committee Of the New
York and Chicago Road association,
spoke as follows on the movement for
continuous good roads, says the Munic
ipal Journal and Engineer:
The movement for better roads is
gradually spreading over the entire
country. Their value is so universally
few years nearly every state in the
Union will 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. l 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-
tablishcd, 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 VIII particularly bene-
lit the rural districts.
Hon James H. Macdonald of Con
necticut is the first Stnte highway com
missioner to recommend n 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 Il continuous good road farm
erS can haul their products To market
with n great saving of horses, vehicles
and time aS compared with Il poor road
or enc which has short sections in good
repair with most Of 1t in poor condi-
tion. \ perfectly good road enables
them to deliver their products at any
time and take advantage of favora-
be market
"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 Il reduction Of the
cost of these products to the consumer
large percentage of the freight car
rird 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
structlon of well built roads, capable
of Icing used ut all seasons and in all
in preventing congestion and in equal
izing their freight traffic.
"ln large cities where roads are good
the motor truck is rapidly supcrsedlng
the dray horse. 1t is cheaper more
convenient, more efficient. more hui
name and more clcanly. Large motor
trucks are used for frcighting purposes
and the delivery automobile is used by
merchants 10 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 ana seed his land and cut his
grain. With the great improvements
that are constantly being made in the
manufacture of motor vehicles 1t 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
kct. The motor vehicle is certainly al
ready success, and how long n list
of other important uses the future will
show no one can predict The automo.
blliSt and the farmer should get to-
gcthcr and work for good roads.
"lhcre 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 Phillp-
pines. 1t would seem as if public con.
, venience 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 Il country
which leads the world In progressive,
ness. should allow its roads to get into
such dcplorable 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 its
great advantage.
"The different elements favorable to
Improving our highways should unite
md urge favorable action by congress,
The people of this country are awaken.
ing to the economic Importance Of this
great reform, which In the near future
will become our neXtnatiOnal work foH
n or a ~nl. 4 ,.nl1 20,