New-York tribune., 1909-04-04
GOOD ROADS CRUSADE
CO-OPER4TION THE CRY.
George {. DieH 1dUises Farmer and
noforist 10 Join Forces.

.s,~vs r. T,isrf Of f,u,TaIo now chairman II the
rood roads board of the American Automobile As
socssfion and engineer % Erie county VINO Is an
errert on highway construction and an important
rorf-ihutor 70 the success Of the National Good
Roads Convention held last July believes that the
sufornohiie Is 90 play the same part IN the foao
building - the next twenty-five or my years 'ha'
The locomotive PLAYED three-quartsrs ot century
aro No man in his opinion. ran own an automo-
be ana drive o. orc hundred miles without be-
corring -trf7uous advocate ~ good roads
That the United States Is behind Europe in road
t,1sl6f,g ard maintenance he believes due 10 i'm
rs~fe~- state laws inefficient and improper admin
tst-atfgn ard management % roads. ignorance on
she par ~ local road builders Of the principles and
methods ~ read construction. Ignorance or tne
qualities essential So road building materials ana
lack ~ facilities FOR Hscertaining such qualities ana
isrk - Hl~I-rt research and experimental Work
q devise changes or improvements in road ma
terials or existing methods = construction SUM
Client 20 meet modern conditions. reduce cost or N
crease efficiency.
-ba national ,sera--.rcr- Of public roads states
thai - the 2fae.a miles ~ public roads IN TINS
country scarcely per cent can he said To oe I'M
proved. The object ~ tho good roads movement =
the establishment y properly developed systems
Of improved main and lateral roads Throughout o.
fhe states in the Union and the careful ana S'S
tennatic maintenance and preserva5lon of sueh :,
TENS when conlDl@ted Farmers and motorists Nj
Dfehl SAYS. receive direct henehts from 'i'e 0'
st-7ir-ion of good roads and although every or"
,,rar-celv receives direct indirect dement's lhe
most active agencies for obtaining good roAas hllS
be farmers and motorists. as organized IN 'I's "a
tioual Grange. with IT'S hundreds of hlalNil4'i go
subsidIarv EXAMINATIONS the American Au'oilo".ie
Assoefatio7 presenting she motorists. and the
National Association Of Automobile Manuiac'uIe's
the Association Of Licensed Automooiie NialluIa''
,rers and the American Motor Car MANUFACTURES
Association. representing the automobile makers
The federal good roads department asserts ''<1'
the direct saving 10 the farmers OF this country
IN properly constructed roads would he $2'''"''"'
annually that ihere would be saving OF over
s100Hea in marketing the wheat crop alone OF
over Sl20ooN marketing the corn crop ana OF
S.eGa9 in marketing the cotton crop However
great tie money value Of good roads may appear
20 be. is important as the educauonal
end social advantages TO be derived therefrom by
the residents Of rural communities, contends Nj
Diehl
Bad roads restrict educational facilities, limit
the rural free delivery service and prevent the
rroper DEVELOPMENT OF social life in the country
Good roads permit of grade schools in the coun-
Try, extend the rural free delivery service ana
check the exodus Of young men and women from
the farm the city. Already in localities where
roads have been improved there is movement
from the city 70 the farm. AS rule the farmers
are more wide awake TO the necessity of good
roads than the residents Of cities as proper high
ways affect directly the comfort and prosperity
Of the former This is a problem for a single
locality, but concerns vitally the states and the
nation.
Several of The richer Eastern states are engaged
In extensive Improvement OF their road systems.
Many towns are too poor 10 improve the lateral
roads. and must depend entirely state aid. In
turn, many states poor to carry the
work alone and require national aid 1t appears
reasonab bic. Mr Diehl argues. that such aid should
be extended through state authorities, under
tfonal supervision. rather than by tho construc-
zion of national trunk lines. Motorists and farm
ers by frequent good roads conventions by con-
tiruing campaigns Of education and by individual
and organized activity bring about sufficient
appropriations by counties. states and the
nation. is part of their duty TO that these
moneys are expended wisely. under competent di-
rection. and in accordance with systematic and
well organized plans.
The system now in operation in the State of New
York can be commended highly 10 many Of her
sister states particularly the classification Of
roads outside of cities and villages These roads
divided into state. county and town roads The
state roads the main traffic lines connecting
the larger centres OF population. They comprise 4
per cent Of the total mileage Of the state and are
10 be constructed and maintained directly by the
state and At state expense The county roads
those which form within each county q properly
developed system of main market roads taking into
account their for the purposes Of common traffic
and travel. These roads compose about per cent
Of the total mileage of the and construct
Cd under state supervision and the joint expense
: Of the state, county and town The town roads
compose the rest of the roads of the state con-
stituttng about 81 per cent Of the total mileage
They built and maintained under the direction
Of the local authorities, but with state supervision
the cost being borne jointly bY state and town
The national good roads board of the American
Automobile Association. through its different state
good roads boards and in cooperation with the
many local automobile club good roads commit
tees. clearing house all good roads
problems and complaints. The board furnishes
copies Of the most approved good roads laws to
the motorists in the different states, all of whom
are encouraged to ask for good roads Information
and to register kicks directly TO the good roads
boards rather than protest indiscriminately and
unavaiIingly All complaints are forwarded 10 the
appropriate highway officials in the several states
where road departments sufficiently organized,
In states where there is sufficient organization
statistics are furnished the resident member Of
the good roads board. and he is urged by co-opera-
ton with allied good roads bodies stimulate pub
lie sentiment appreciation Of the necessity of
proper highway laws and proper organization.
The first national good roads and legislative con-
vention called by the American Automobile Asso-
ciation, co-operated by National Grange, the
American Road Makers Association and the entire
automobile industry, held in Buffalo last July.
productive of a better understanding among the
various organizations. which has resulted in in
saEtence that another similar, but broader and
krger good roads and legislative convention be
feld this year. All the above mentioned and many
other good roads organizations will join in this
xention. which will be addressed by experts from
al over the country, describing the best method Of
proper organization of road bureaus In the
eral states The necessity Of adequate national and
state appropriations Will be emphasized, and The
convention viii doubtless urge upon the legislative
representatives Washington and the various
state capitals the demand for carrying road inn
provenent extensively and intelligently than
hitherto.