The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1910-02-18
C;o:;;::o;;;i1;;.. z o : ::::!:::
National Crusade,

Na1OR;d crusade,
1t has been suggested that the Coed
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 500 affiliated clubs of the Amer
lean Automobile Association and one
each in the thousands OF affiliated
bodies of the National Grange. The
purpose of these meetings is to arouse
public sentiment for the enactment of
comprehensive highway laws by the
various State Legislatures and the
Federal Congress and the appropriate
ing of liberal funds by town, county,
State and Federal authorities.
Much has been said about the de-
tails of construction. but ii is believed
that these may safely be left to COM
petent highway engineers. who should
be employed to efficiently and eco
nomically supervise the expenditure
of road appropriations. 1t is doubtful
if the discussion at road conventions
of the various types of road construc-
ton is of much value, as the time of
such meeting could doubtless be more
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-
walls and assured that it is drawn to
meet the conditions of the particular
locality where it is urged.
A 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 ighways
into three classes, sometimes de-
scribed as State, county and town
roads, the State roads constituting
approximately 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 lie proper
toned among the severa, counties,
generally speaking, equally.
The second class, or county roads,
20 consist of the main market roads,
which will constitute properly de-
veloped system of roads within the
county, taking into consideration
their use for 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 i'll the first
two classes.
The State should bear at least a
portion of the expense of construction
of all three classes in order that it
may properly retain an interest and
have supervision over same. The
proportion which the State should
be called upon to pay must of neces-
Annan6 a inn
in the individual States.
In the State of New York the Com
monwealth 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
of the town roads, the county bear
ing approximately one-third of the
cost of 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
the State, as in most localities it has
been found impracticable to have
these improved main lines repaired
by the local officials, which is but an
other way of 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 a highway commission. consisting
of from one to three members. Each
county should employ county engi-
neer or experienced highway Official
that each town should secure the
services of a practical road builder,
that the responsibility for all of the
work on all classes of roads should
rest with the State Highway Commits
sion, and that they should receive de-
tailed reports from the county engi-
neer and he in turn receive such re-
ports from the town officials.
Climbin& a Mountain on a