The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1909-08-25
NARROW ROADWAYS.
The Advantage OF Narrower Roads IN
This Country Would Be 10 Keeping
Them In Order More Easily.

= - " az = Oh germany as
compared with those in the
United States is furnished bv
Consul Robert j. Thompson.
Perhaps Germany is not more
noted for the excellence Of it's
roads than any other of several
European countries. but it is
not an extravaganza statement
20 say that one never sees in
any of the American western
states q country road as good
as the poorest to be found here
W hiie this is due principally 20
the scientific building and
maintenance Of public roads in
Europe. DO is perhaps. likewise
attributable i'm equal degree to 4
the restriction of the highways /
to reasonable workable width |
Advantages OF Narrow Highways.
German roads are perhaps
subjected 90 "a hundred times
more traffic than similar roads
M the United States These
roads range from 20 To 30 feet
IN width, while in our middle
or western states. where tho /
traffic IS comparatively light we
take land Of an average of SfOoi
per acre and cut NJ up with
roadways 06 feet i'm widfh
practically two thirds of fbe
same being given over TO
weeds, which furnish am mex
laustabic supply of seeds for
me adjoining farm lands. The
farmer pa Germany who has T,
conquered the weeds ON his
ground need have no thought
% their being started again
rom uncltivated or uucared for
and along the roadways. There =
re NO weeds. no mud or chucl- =
ioles, no sand stretches i'm the :
Dads. Looking into the valleys 4
rom one OF the thousands of a.
ookOut towers which have been
laced on the summit of nearly u
very high elevation of land or
fountain i'm Germany. the -
Dads lie before ones view like n
right white ribbons running
asst squares of green or brown
ESQ, along the verges of cult w
ated woods, and binding viii B.
'ge % viliage-a solution of
le hrst and most important
roblem of human economy I'm
nd evolution, that of trans ge
or;ation. ,u
10 is not an infreQuent sight di.
hen travelling by rail through by
'e more level stretches of the rs
'untry IN Germany. France or Il.
oiland, 60 see an automobile ire
'lng over the main highway tm
'raiiei with the railroad 10
SHY keeping pace with the so
am for miles, it being gener hlo
~ necessary 60 slacken speed ~. .a
NY when passing through the mo
rSer villages and towns and 4
Yer on account OF poor roads.
ne good roads question for
t. United States may seem al.
'st hopeless when considered
th such pictures before the
e, but one of the simplest and
'st practical measures that Z
lld Zee taken for their better wi
mt would he to reduce their ten
dth 10 from one-third 10 half Wi
what they now are. Work thi
iid then be concentrated on pla
roadway and drains the att
ste land returned to the I
mers or abuttlug property of
ners, and by these perfectly an,
.uroi economies make both pug
building and maintenance
TIE roads a much SIMMER
Tess expensive proposition II
go road car bo called really day
at n 10 is bOrdered with goo
eds or mud and 90 care for
10 Keep up road from go
% teet 'n width, not 20 men
the loss Of land. means in
long run nearly double the b
ehse ct 80 60 35 foot road crt
Frussian law specifically Car
.eS unnecessary width shall and
welded on account of The Pau
~ land and the greater ex- Kin
Sc OF construction and main. afie
lncc. tber
Highways In The UHiled STATES. Van an
ne average width ot chans- to i
or afUlftraN - a.. -