Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-02-03
The Trunk System.

It is proposed in the state OF Penn-
sylvania to issue bonds for ROAD
building purposes on plan similar
to that adopted several years ago IN
New York. The money to be expend-
ed will be used, doubtless, in con-
Meeting already improved highways
into trunk lines, as that system Is
being found practical in many OF the
States just as it, has been found prac-
tical throughout European countries.
The New Era, Of Lancaster, takes ex-
ception to this proposal, and IN an
ticipation that such trunk highways
may, serve class of people who some
times travel farther than to the cor
ner grocer, says: ..ae :.
: "Where are these sS,000,o00 worth
of roads to be constructed? In all
probability the greater part of 1t Is
intended to be used in reconstructing
the Old State road leading from Phil
adelphia to Pittsburg, which the peo-
pie of the State have had no use for
during the past seventy-five years, but
which, the Federation of Automobile
Clubs evidently believes would give
them a 200 or more miles thorough
fare, where they could speed their
machines to their hearts content at
the expense of the taxpayers.
aThe people Of the State are build
ing roads in every county for their
actual use and needs, and the tax to
do so is no inconsidarable burden.
They have. no desire and should not
be asked to build roads for automo-
bile owners in addition.
The method of road building, as
understood from this remark, when
carried to the extreme would have the
improvement made first for the ben
eft Of the individual, then for the
few and lastly for the greatest num-
Der; that is, first, cement walks from
the kitchen doors Of farm houses to
the chicken coops; after that to the
neighbors' houses, and. later, con-
struct roads to the four-corners. The
plan Is paralleled by the old propo-
sition to build chimney by begin
ming at the top, or by growing first
the leaf, then the twlg and then the
branch before the trunk Of the tree.
It reverses the natural order Of devel-
opment. ~
That this plan of piece-meal road
building has been followed in many
localities must be admitted, but its
folly and costliness is just what all
progressive States are abandoning.
The maintenance of short, discon-
nected stretches of improved high
way must be left to the care of the
local authorities, and experience
shows that these people simply will
not attend to the up-keep. Reports
from many sections show that this
condition is particularly true OF Penn
sylvania farmers. When the State
undertakes the building of highways,
it must also undertake their main
tenance if the investment is not to be
wasted, and State utilities are not
supposed to be restricted to special
classes.
The real animus of the paragraph
quoted, it may be assumed, is oppo-
sition to the automob bilists rather than
to system of trunk highways. The
writer Of the article has probably en-
countered some drivers cf motor cars
who were lawless in their use of the
road, but has he never met any other
people who disregarded the rights OF
others? Because an occasional CASH
Ter runs away with the funds of the
bank, should all banking business be
prohibited? 1t is an easy matter to
say In ones haste that "all men are
liars" but difficult to prove it-Ed-
mund Burke in defending the Amer
lean colonies before Parliament de-
clared that it is impossible to indict
a whole people. The recklessness Of
some motorists has been the cause OF
bringing uansrited opprobrium upon!
many innocent owners.
People living in the country should
appreciate that the automobile cannot
be, driven off the roads by bad
stretches here and there. Motoring
is a method of travelling that has
come to stay, It can be regulated by
law if necessary, and in any event
will be regulated soon by custom, as
horse traffic has been regulated. Any
effort, therefore, to injure the motor
owner by depriving ones self of the
benefit of good roads seems puerile.-
Good Roads Magazine.