Evening journal., 1910-09-06
TUESDAY, SEPT. 6. 1910
STATE HIGHWAY.


HE resolutions of the Republican State Con-
vention contain the following; WE COM
MEND THE SUBSTANTIAL RESULTS OBTAIN
ED IN THE MATTER OF GOOD ROADS AND
STRONGLY ADVOCATE A POLICY OF I'M
PROVING OUR HIGHWAYS AND OF KEEPING
THEM IN GOOD ORDER WHEN IMPROVED;
AND WE FAVOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A
STATE ROAD THROUGH OUR THREE COUN-
TIES so AS TO BRING ABOUT LOCAL I'M
PROVEMENTS AND ENCOURAGE CLOSER RE
LATIONS BETWEEN THE PEOPLE.
This in a nutshell is the gospel of good roads
in Delaware. The declaration is what was TO be
expected of the Republican party the party of
progress.
Some years ago New Castle county began a cam
paign for road improvement Throughout the
county there we're misgvings and objections on
the part, surprising as il may seem, OF farmers
who would get the greatest benefit from good
roads There was not much objection by Will
mingtonans although there has been sentiment
in this city that some Of the money received by
the county should in fairness be used for improv-
ing the streets of Wilmington, as Wilmington pays
heavy county tax. But this point has never been
-igorousy urged, and if il were II would mean
1r-rtns OF the eFori Of buifaiug. .improved roads
in the county. Wilmington has therefore hnan-
cially contributed to the construction of good
highways in the county.
Gradually the sentiment for good roads has
spread throughout the county Those persons who
have seen them and used them are heartily in
favor of good highways and doubts and misgivings
have given way 10 expressions of commendation.
The points now discussed are what roads shall be
improved and the best manner of keeping up the
roads after they have been built.
Probably most men familiar with the subject
admit that IT would have been better at the start
TO have constructed good highway from Will
mington 10 the Kent county line They believe
that patchwork road work should have come sub
sequently. Be that il may, the question is now
What is the best way to advance good roads in the
county and state? II seems to us that the declar-
alton Of the Republican platform in favor of state
road solves the problem and points the way in
manner satisfactory TO the great majority OF peo-
pie interested in good roads There should be
State road through all three counties. This means
that there should be 9 continuous road built with
State help. There said to be legal objections
TO direct bond issue covering the expenses of
continuous State road, but this obstacle is not in
suTmountable way we believe will be found by
the next Legislature to put into effect the declar
alton of the Republican platform.
Among the advantages of a State highway the
platform mentions the local improvements that
would follow and the encouragement Of closer re-
lauons between the people There are many other
advantages of course such as the certain saving
to farmers in the use of teams over good roads,
but if there we're no other reasons than those ad-
vanced by the Republican platform they would be
sufficient.
We believe the Democratic State Convention
will also favor State highway and if so, such
road may be considered a certainty. The friends
Of good roads and State highway may therefore
feel that the battle has been won and that Della
ware viii be in line with other states in this
( matter
We hope TO see a good State road from one
end of Kent to the other and from one end OF
Sussex 10 the other If the people of those coun-
ties could the good roads in some Of the rural
counties of New York State for example and
3 ride over them, even the backward ones would be
converted TO the good roads doctrine.