The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1907-05-31
GOOD @
@ RO X ID S.
Past, Present and Future

were required. AS pOpuldllOH grew,
however, facilities for the better ac-
commodation OF traffic increased.
This TO some extent compelled atten-
tion to road building and finally led
to the construction of the old Ma
tional road, under a special act OF
Congress of 1905.
This road served to give better fa-
ciities for transportation, allowed
freight to be moved, mail TO be de-
livered and passengers TO travel with
greater dispatch than ever before
over that route. Although 1t served
but a comparatively small part OF
the country, il was a long step for
ward.
After the National road was partly
built the development Of railroads be-
gan, and as we know, work on the
great turnpike was discontinued, not
to be resumed. From that time until
the adoption of the principle Of State
cooperation in road building, little
was accomplished in the way OF road
improvement. Roads were made;
but they were scarcely more than
patch work. The art OF road making
was not understood in this country,
for none had given it particular at
tention.
In the year 1891 cooperation OF
the State with the people was adopt
ed, when New Jersey passed the first
State aid law. Almost coincident
with this, however the principle Of
State aid was considered in New Eng
land and the Middle West. In 1892
Massachusetts and Vermont, and in
1893 Ohio made a beginning by APP
pointing highway commissions. Fol
lowing the State of Massach usetts,
Connecticut adopted State aid plan,
and in the same year California APP
pointed a State highway commission.
New York adopted State aid in 1898;
Maine followed in 1901, and Rhode
Island in 1902. Since then New
Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Della
ware, Illinois, Maryland and Ohio,
Iowa, Idaho and Michigan, Mime
sofa, Utah and Virginia have followed
the lead, and either adopted State
aid laws or provided for the appoint
ment of commissions, for the pur-
pose OF gathering information and
giving advice and instruction to local
authorities. Twenty-Five States are
now giving such cooperation to their
citizens.
The growing popularity OF the
State aid is shown by the demands
for increased appropriation, where
ri MI
tried. Speakers from the several
States have given and will give dur
ing this convention the present status
Of the work in their States
The present state Of road improve
ment is due to the fact that the value
OF permanently improved highways
is becoming better understood and
appreciated by the people This pub
lie sentiment is the result Of the work
begun twenty years ago. as Mr.. Potter
told you yesterday, through the agi-
tation for good roads by users Of BIZ
cycles and other patrons OF the high
way, aided and encouraged by an en-
lightened public press. The principle
of State aid to the county and the
township is now thoroughly estab-
lished and although creditable and
far-reaching results have been accom-
plished within the last few years, the
work may be said to be only just be-
gun. That road Improvement is de-
manded by the people is clearly
shown by the fact that they are,
through State cooperation, willing
and even anxious to tax themselves
for many millions of dollars in order
TO secure IL.
Yet the work actually done is as
little or nothing compared with what
remains to be accomplished. The
largest sum to be made available, so
far, for road improvement by any
one State is the $50,000,000 voted
by the State of New York. | may
perhaps be pardoned for speaking of
this as an example, for It is my native
State and blood is thicker than
water, you know. | am, indeed.
proud TO see that such substantial
progress has been made since the
money system of road making was
generally adopted in my State.
w nat VI llO luNult VI lOdh bh'ih
ing? One does not need TO be a
prophet nor the son Of a prophet to
predict great things in highway i'm
provement in this country.
While we are still behind other
countries in the matter of improved
roads, their necessity is fully ad
mitted and our progress from this
time on must be at an accelerating
rate.
Proper construction Of roads and
streets calls for the highest engineer
ing ability and experience. II is be
coming recognized as separat,
branch of civil engineering, and sew
eral colleges are establishing or ar,
about to establish courses of instruc
tion designed especially to fit mel
for this work.
You gentlemen Of this conventio,
are keenly alive to the many prob