Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-11-30

5. Condition Of surfacing.
g. Slope of shoulders and condition OF
bitches.
z. General appearance of roadsides.
6 Your committee desires to commend
most heartily the awakening interest IN
improved highways that has been evil
denced by practical work along the route
in a very large majority OF the counties
this season. Much work has been OBJ
served that merits communication and
some has been noted that is entitled to
receive strong condemnation sufficient to
stop its continuation.
Z. Attention is called to some of the
prominent, stretches of road along the
route and q few statements are made
which II is hoped will be received in the
same kind spirit with which they are
made. not as unjust criticism, but In
the hope that they viii be helpful sug-
gestions for the further Improvement and
In the interest of improved highways.
s. Several miles of this route pass over
toll roads. While this system of highways
has some features to commend 1t. many
states have abolished toll roads in favor
of free roads, and in this connection IL
may be said that toll roads do not exist
primarily from the initiative of the toll
road companies, but rather from the lack
of the communities themselves to provide
their own highways necessary to modern
times, and in view of this lack OF en-
terprise on the part Of the communities
themselves, it is only natural that private
companies should come into existence to
provide highways such as are public
necessity.
TOLL ROADS EXCLUDED.
q Whatever influence this tour from
New York to Atlanta may have upon the
question of highways, 1t is desired that 1t
shall be toward the end of encouraging
communities themselves to have an
awakening interest in improving their
own highways. In view Of this desire II
has been decided that the awards or
these prizes shall go to others than toll
road companies.
10 In commenting upon the condition of
these prominent stretches of the route
we shall start at the north end and pro-
cecil toward the south as the tour was
made.
II. MiddIesex county, N. J., has in the
vicinity of Dayton some miles OF gravel
read. treated presumably with some OF
the commercial road oils. This stretch OF
road was found to be in excellent con-
dition, we'll graded and comfortable to
ride over In this county there are also
several miles of macadam roads that
show the effect of heavy automobile traf-
ic and need resurfacing.
r. Mercer county, N. j.. is resurtaclng
its macadam roads and also laying oi-
luminous macadam, which is the latest
type of construction designed for both
horse and automobile traffic. The roads
are well constructed, and are being main
tanned in very good condition.
49, In connection with the roads in
these two counties it is fitting to COM
mend the state of New Jersey for being
the first to adopt the system of state aid
for improving its highways, which is be-
lieved to be the most practical and best
OF systems of highway Improvement In
existence. This state is also leader in
the bituminous type OF construction.
a. Buck county. Pa, has a few miles
of new macadam, well built and found in
good condition. This road was rather
narrow and had steep shoulders in places.
A short piece of bituminous work was
noted.
Is. On the way into the city of Phila-
delphia, the route was over a plain ma
cadam street which was in almost per-
feet condition through a residential sec
ton. which shows the possibilities of a
Yell-kept plain maeadam. .
BEYOND PHILADELPHIA.
ls. Leaving the city of Philadelphia for
Gettysburg, we soon came to the shistori-
cal Lancaster pike, Of which the hrst 16
miles was largely through a residential
section. ana IN tAGelicnl CoAiAtNAbhg C1PO-
eially from Berwyn toward Malyert.,
Is. The prominent feature OF many miles
of the Lancaster pike is its remarkably
straight alignment which deserves the
highest commentator 80 all road build
ers, who too often nowadays are inclined
to build short and dangerous curves,
which is false economy and often entirely
unnecessary. ~
10. The road from Gettysburg to Ha-
gerstown is mountainous, narrow and
steep. A lack of side bitches was noted,
also frequent ''thank-y ou-ma ans de-
signed to throw water from one side
OF the road to the other side. Many of
these are built high and slanting across
ANYTHING Of the kind to cover the
sharp corners and edges of the coarser
stone This broken stone is left to be
packed down by horses feet and rolled
by the wagon wheels Of those VINO pay
toll for the privilege Of passing over
this road Persons do not like to walk
over such broken stone because it
hurts their feet and cuts their shoes.
Have we lost all our respect for our
horses feet? What can we say for
such q system OF road building? A
relic of past times, barbarous inh uman,
wasteful, that should be replaced by a
system that uses machinery methods
OF stone crusners and road rollers.
certainly TINS D6duAAAhA NdAACy uCSOANSS
a highway Of which the state of Vir-
ginia might justly be proud.
%. The only remaining section
north of Roanoke, Va, Of which men
ton is made is Rockbridge county.
Here we found rocks and brush had
been cleared away from the earth road
which has also been well graded, well
SNAPPED and drained, and Is commend
able example of a well-built road.
%. Roanoke county, Virginia, has
shown much interest in improving
their dirt roads, some six miles IF
which has been we'll graded and part
OF this has been built on new location
FRANKLIN COUNTY PRAISED.
"a. Franklin county, Va, has more
miles of mountain road through an UNI
settled section. The condition that
these mountain roads were found to be
in was a surprise to everyone passing
over them, and solicited much favora-
BILE comment, and those who have La
bored for the improvement of roads in
this county are certainly entitled 10
much credit. The surface OF the road
has been very much improved by
blasting out bouiders OF rock and re-
moving loose stones; by widening the
road in some places, and also by re-
moving the shade 50 that the road can
more readily dry out after a rain.
24-a. 1t may be well at this point