The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-07-08
ROADS ARE TOO WIDE
THE GOVERNMENT HEADS MOVE.
AIENT TO MAKE
Narrower and Better, Which Would
Cause Great Saving in Many


States.
Automobiles all over the country
are showing the greatest possible in
terest in the efforts that are be-
ing made by the government to IN
duce the various State authorities
to construct narrower and better
highways. Not only would this be
of advantage to the users OF auto
mobiles, but it would save the diff
ferent States many thousands of dol
lars every year. AS an example OF
the tremendous highway mileage IN
some of the States, and what of their
width would mean, the following
width are given: Minnesota has
$4,000 miles, Wisconsin 10000,
Michigan $4,000, Iowa 10000, Kan
sas 10000, Nebraska $4,000, Mis-
souri, $4,000, Illinois $4,000, Indiana
10000, Ohio $4,000, the total of
these States alone being 100000.
Reducing the width of these public
Highways, which now average 66
feet. to Sc feet, would give back
to the farmers of those States, for
cultivation, 100000 acres of gen.
orally tillable land, which at an av-
erage valuation of 500 per acre,
would mean the restoration to the
producing values of the States NAM
ed. of s25O,0O0,0O0. This sum has
an annual interest value of S12,5OO,-
600, an amount which might be re-
covered, and If applied to the proper
scientific construction of roads in the
United States, would in few years
give us the most extensive and fin
est road system to be had.
Some of the best country roads
| in the world are found in Germany,
and for that reason the United States
government recently set to work to
| ascertain just how they are made and
kept in good condition. A report
Just made by Consul Thompson, of
|
| ordinarily interesting. In this re-
port Mr.. Thompson says:
German roads are, perhaps, sub
iected to a hundred times more traf-
fic than similar roads in the United
States. These roads range from 20
to 80 feet in width while in our
middle or western States, where the
traffic is comparatively light, We take
land of an average value of $1OO
| per acre, and cut it up with road
ways &C feet in width, practically
two-thirds of the same being CIV
en- over to weeds, which furnish an
inexhaustible supply of seeds for
adjoining lands. The farmer in
| Germany, who has conquered the
weeds on his ground, need have no
thought Of their being started again
from uncultivated or unCared for
land along the roadways. There are
no weeds, no mud or no chuck holes,
no sand stretches in the roads. Look
ing into the valleys from one Of the
thousands OF lookout towers which
have been placed on the summit of
nearly every high elevation of land
or mountain in Germany, the road
lies before ones view like bright
white ribbons running past squares
of green or brown fields, along the
verges of cultivated woods, and bind
ing village to village-a solution
of the first and most important prob
lem of human economy and evolu-
ton, that Of transportation.
1t is not an infreQuent sight, when
travelling by rail through the more
| level stretches of country in Germa-
ny. France or Holland, to see an
automobile flying over some main
highway. running parallel with the
railroad, keeping pace with the train
for miles, it being generally necessary
to saken speed only when passing
through the larger villages and
towns and never on account OF poor
roads,
The good-roads question for the
United States may seem almost hope
less, when considered with such
pictures before the eye. but one of
the simplest and most practical meas
ures that could be taken for their
bettermcnt, would be reduce their
width from One-thrd to One-half OF