The Detroit times., 1912-10-14
DEVELOPMENT
OF TRUNK Line
ROADS NEEDED
Demand for Through Routes
Came With the Auto-
mobile
TRUNK LINES ALWAYS
THE BETTER BUILT
More Substantial and Lasting
Than the Country or
Town Roads

Wulle the Ndlue anu necessity OF
first-class county and township roads
is generally recognized, It is the re-
suit OF costly experience In various
states that there must be a develop
ment of trunk line highways In the
establishment of comprehensive state
road systems. This question Is In
volved vitality In the present New
York state situation. OF the $4,000
miles OF road In the state, 1000 have
been improved as state OF county
highways. 1000 macadamized as town
roads, 10000 miles improved by
towns as gravel roads, and some 40.-
900 miles remaining in their original
condition. 1t was In the general cleo
tion Of 1905 that the constitutional
amendment authorizing the issuance
OF bonds to the extent OF $50,000.000
was voted upon favorably. the neces-
sary legal enactments being adopted
by the legislature that followed.
II was at this time, coincident TO
| the development OF the automobile
OF which there are now over 100000
| In New York state-that there came
a strong demand for through routes
to serve as the nucleus of system
OF main arteries of communication.
These state highways now comprise
approximately $500 miles, connecting
principal centers of population, and
forming a skeleton system OF which
the county and town highways are
tributary. This building OF trunk
lines has grown apace because 1t was
learned that under the original plan
of construction a disjointed and un-
tolerated system resulted.
At the recent American Road con-
gress, Supt. Reel, OF the New York
State Highway commission, gave an
address which proved one of the most
interesting and effective at the coun-
j try-wide gathering OF roads builders
In the course OF his remarks, Mr
Reel, who also serves as chairman
of the commission. made this refer
ence to constructions:
"As regards the character OF con-
struction, the trunk lines naturally
are designed more literally and built
4 more substantially than the less Inn
portant county highways. II Il could
be said that standards have been es-
tablished, they are that puddled ma
| cadam with hot oil surface treatment
Is the cheapest construction used. as
phalt macadam on more important
routes, and so on to mixed asphalt
imacadam, bitulithic, and brick con-
struction In the vicinity OF large
cities, the idea In every instance be-
ing TO suit the construction to the
traffic conditions.
"One reason why the roads In Mas
sachusetts have become so Justly
celebrated, Is that in that state the
i trunk line idea prevailed from the
start Had we been similarly fortn-
nate in the way OF highways legisla'
tion, today the state OF New, York
would have a system OF highways un-
equalled by any in the world"
Following the lead Of Massachu-
\ sets and it's subsequent adoption by
New York. New Jersey is now provid-
| ing for a state system which en-
braces its through roads. State Road
Commissioner Stevens has proceeded
with the work until now some 500
miles of road hAye been selected to
be known hereafter as state roads,
and to be taken care OF by the state
itself. Opinion Is general that this
form OF procedure will ultimately be
adopted in every state in the union.
There Is also pronounced sentiment
for an interstate system OF national
roads when the federal government
itself enters energetically into the
highways situation, which Is assum.
ing such countrywide import that any
further delay In giving 1t attention
will not be accepted without protest
on the part OF both the man who lives
in the country and the man who
travels afar these days. owing to i'm
proved roads.