The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1909-01-29
French VS.. American Roads.


"A recent official report from Consul
General R. P. Skinner of Marseilles,
France, gives some highly important in
formation regarding the public roads OF
that country. AS is generally known,
France has the best and most complete
road system in the world, and its splendid
public highways fill with envy and admi-
ration all foreigners, particularly those
from the United States, where the roads
in general are about the worst in any
country protesting to he civilized.
The superiority of the French road sys-
tenn is stated by Consul General Skinner
to be due to the fact that the construction
and maintenance Of the principal roads is
carried on under the supervision Of
corps Ct experts in road construction. who
find in their profession opportunities for
advancement and distinction such as
could not and does not exist under local
road administration. French roads are
good not because of any superiority of
road making material, nor because the
French people possess any special talent
for road building. but because the init
alive in matters pertaining to the public
highways IS taken by the highly trained
engineers and administrations, under the
direction of the National Government.
All the principal French highways, or
Irrational routes,' of which there are
"a, $50 miles, are constructed and main
tanned by the National Government,
which has expended on them over $780,
ooo, 900. The superiority of these roads
over those constructed or maintained by
the local authorities is very marked. but
even the local roads are kept in good
condition, so that the standard French
road is one upon which in rolling
country draft horse hauling load of
!. 900 pounds is expected to travel about
20 miles per day. This fact alone serves
to indicate the difference between the
roads in France and those in the United
States; where the load hauled by one
horse over the average level country road
is only I,4oo pounds. and on roads with
S per cent grades only 1000 pounds.
The basis of the French highway sys.
teni is the School of Bridges and Roads.
one of the finest technical colleges in the
world, where engineers are trained for
positions in the public road administra-
tive system. These engineers co operate
with the local authorities, and the result
is that there is available for the work of
road construction an effective body of
competent administrators, whose influ-
ence extend throughout the whole
country.
A beginning has been made in small
way in this country by the Bureau of
Public Roads of the United States De
partment of Agriculture. to introduce the
methods by which the French road sys-
tenn has been so satisfactorily developed
The organization of this Bureau, and
funds at its disposal, are, however,
wholly inadequate. What is needed is a
National Highways Commission which
shall have general powers to promote the
construction and improvement of the
public roads, and for which liberal appro-
priations should be made by Congress.
The National Governments cooperation
in this matter will greatly stimulate
action by the various State. County and
Township authorities, and will result in
the establishment of complete system
of properly constructed roads, rivaline
those of France, in all sections of the
country. Report of the National Grange,
Patrons Of Husbandry.