Evening journal., 1911-02-17
GOOD ROADS IN PENNSYLVANIA.

I'D ENNSYLVANIA will enter upon thorough
Il plan of general road Improvement If the bill
presented to the Leg sIature at Harrisburg by Ser
ator Sproul Of Chester becomes a law. Gov
ernor Tener has often gone on record as favorng
a comprehensive scheme OF road improvement, and
IL is entirely likely that the present session of the
Pennsylvania Legislature will close with definite
plan of road improvement adopted.
Under the Sproul bill the Legislature will have
power TO authorize the issuing of bonds to the
amount of fifty millions, for the purpose of inn
proving the highways of the commonwealth
Another Sproul bill provides for the reorganiza-
ton of the State Highway Commission and for
State aid towards the maintenance of city, borough
and township roads. Under the bill the State is
divided into fifty districts with engineers in charge
under control OF the State Highway Commission.
network of roads has been mapped out in
each district connecting county seats throughout
the State. The important towns also are TO be
connected. The scheme proposed in Pennsylvania
is similar to that now in operation in New York.
1t is probable that under the bill there would be
a State highway of good road from Philadelphia
to Pittsburg.
The Sprou bill involves the expenditure of a
vast sum of money, and the important thing is to
see that it is properly spent and not wasted that
part of il does not fall into the hands of grafers.
That is of the dangers of such legislation in
Pennsylvania. Imagine crowd such as that
which constructed the capitol building at Har-
risburg having charge of the expenditure of a
large amount for improvement of the roads.
Mr. Sproul, who is particularly active and alert,
will no doubt guard against a waste such as might
come through the manipuatons of grafters.
1t is also to be hoped that the Chester Senator
will do something towards abolishng the numef-
Gus toll gates that obstruct the highways of Penn
sylvana, particularly in Chester and Delaware
counties In New Jersey an agitation has started
for the abolition of the toll bridges. Travel along
the public highways should not be impeded by
either toll gates or bridges. In Delaware our
own Legislature should take some action towards
abolishng the toll gates which hold up travellers
about Wilmington
Mr.. Sprouts bill for good roads shows what
other States are doing The plan of having the
State issue bonds is popular One of the most
important matters before our own Legislature is
that of providing for State highway, a good
road from one end Of the State to the other This
subject has been agitated in Delaware for years
past, and Senator Drexler has given notice of a
bill for improving the State highway.
The friends of good roads in Delaware will have
to rally if they want something done 1t would
be a great disappointment if the present Legs-
lature should adjourn with nothing done towards
bringing into realization that much talked of good
road. The State could afford the expenditure and
should be in a position TO issue bonds
II may be noticed that the Sprou bill provides
for good roads connecting the county seats and
the important towns. This course should be for
lowed in Delaware, not patch work road building
like that done in parts of this county.