The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1910-03-10
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National Crusade.

|
Roads Board OF the American Auto
mobile Association cooperate with
! the National Grange to hold thou
! sands OF good road meetings through
out the country-it being intended to
hold at least one meeting in each Of
the 300 affiliated clubs of the Amer
i lean Automobile Association and one
! each in the thousands OF affiliated
! bodies Of the National Grange The
purpose OF these meetings is 10 arouse
public sentiment for the enactment Of
comprehensive highway laws by the
/ various State Legislatures and the
Federal Congress and tho appropriate
ing of liberal funds by town. county,
State and Federal authorities.
, Much has been said about :he de-
tails of construction. but it is believed
! that these may safely be left to CON-
petent highway engineers. who should
be employed to efficiently and eco
nomically supervise the expenditure
OF road appropriations. 1t is doubtful
| IL the discussion at road conventions
of the various types of road ccnstruc-
tion is Of much value. as the time OF
]
/ profitably expended in discussing in
detail desirable highway legislation
and the size of appropriations.
| In order to create sentiment for
| comprehensive highway laws it is
| necessary that the advocates in any
| particular locality of such statutes
clearly understand the kind Of law
! desired, and be familiar with its de-
tails and assured that it is drawn TO
meet the conditions of the particular
locality where il is urged.
4 highway law of any State should
provide for the Improvement, main
tenance and repair of every mile of
| highway in the Commonwealth OUT
side cities and Incorporated villages.
Experience in some States has shown
, that it is wise to divide the highways
into three classes. sometimes de-
scribed as State, county and town
roads, the State roads constituting
approXiT ;ely four per cent. of the
total mileage and being those high
ways which connect the main CEN
tres of population OF the several coun-
ties. These highways will be proper
toned among the several counties,
| generally speaking, equally
The second class. or county roads,
to consist of the main market roads,
which Will constitute a properly de-
Veloped system of roads within the
county. taking into consideration
their use 70: the purposes of common
traffic and travel. Such roads will
not be equally divided among the
! counties, and will comprise about six
per cent. of the total mileage of the
State. In the vicinity OF cities these
roads will be more numerous. as their
mileage is largely governed by con-
siderations of population, assessed
| valuation. etc.
The third classification of roads
would be known as town or lateral
roads and would comprise all of the
highways not included in the first
two classes.
The State should bear at least a
portion of the expense of construction
of all three classes in order that i;
may properly retain an interest and
have supervision over same. The
proportion which the State should
be called upon to pay must of neces-
sity depend upon the local conditions
il the individual States.
In the State of New Yorl; the Com.
nonwealth pays the entire cost of the
State roads, approximately one-half
OF the cost of the county roads. and
! approximately one-third OF the cost
CT the town roads, the county bear
| ing approximately one-third of the
cost or the county roads, and the re-
naming expense of all classes being
| borne by the town.
The cost OF maintain the the State
and county roads should be borne by
rhe State, as il mcsC localities i: has
been found impracticab!c 20 have
these improved main lines repaired
by the ioca! officials. which is but an
| other way o. stating that It should
be done by the STATE officials at State
expense
A State highway law should. it is
! believed, provide for the appointment
OF 2 highway commission. consisting
| or from one 10 three members. Each
[ county should employ a county engi-
neer or experienced highway official
that each town should secure tine
services OF practical road builder.
that the responsibility for all of the
work on all classes CT roads snould
! rest with the State Highway Commits
sion, and that they should receive de-
| tailed reports from the county engi-
| neer and he III turn receive such re.
ports from the town officials.