The record., 1913-05-15
QUESTION OF BETTER ROADS
Not Alone Affects Farmer and Auto
nobiIlst. but ls OF Vital impor-
tance to Everybody.

The good roads question is one
which today is occupying the atten-
tion OF every thinking man In the
United States This question does
not affect alone the farmer or auto
mobilist but Is one which ia of vital
importance TO ell of us. owing to the
fact that every extension OF the good
roads movement and the completion
OF every new artery has resulted not
only in a greater production OF food
stuffs in that particular section. but
has cheapened them on account OF the
small cost OF getting them into the
market.
Although at the present time there
are between $1,000 and 10000 miles OF
improved roads in the United States.
either under construction or proposed.
no section of road is receiving the
careful investigation or is being
watched as closely by the road max
ers OF the country and by good roads
advocates. as is the 106-mile road
which Gen. T. Coleman du Pont Is
constructing at his own expense
through the state OF Delaware.
General du Pont felt that any
amount OF money he might give for a
road would be OF far greater benefit
and would have a far greater infiu'
ence on the happiness and material
prosperity OF the people Of his sta. ,
than any other project he might Sc
lect. To quote his own words: my
object in building the road is not only
10 provide a good highway where II
is badly needed, but also to work out
in practical way a problem that viii.
10 successful. revolutionize the build.
ing Of roads in the United States. The
problem is, How can a free country
road be built TO make II pay its origi
nal cost, cost OF maintenance and a
fair return on the money invested
TNr Triton OF this problem as
7,-Itea oU by General da Pont. as a
oss1it nf 10 experience on the Della
ware road, is a system of graduated
assessments. so arranged that all who
receive direct benefits from the road
are to bear their share OF its expense
at the outset. and will later be recon-
pensed by rentals of the unused por
tons of the road itself.
Suppose, for instance. that this
Delaware road was being constructed
by this method, instead OF being Civ
en- by General du Pont On the du
Pont road some twenty-six acres o
land have been condemned for every
mile OF road. Revenue from the road
will be partially derived from trolley
franchises. from water. telephone, tel
egraph and sewer right of way rental,
and partially from the rental Of tha
part of the twenty-six acres per mil,
which IL not used for actual road con
struction.
As laid out, the du Font road con
sists Of some seven parts, although
not all Of them will be developed i'm
mediately. the idea being to increas'
the size Of the road as the traffic be
comes heavier. When completed tn,
road will conrist OF a forty-foot striI
in the MIDDLE. which will be givel
over to automobiles. and on eithe
side OF this forty-foot strip a fifteen
ioot sutp, WHICH hds peen IeserNe'
for trolley lines. Beyond the troile,
lines there win be thirty-foot road
for horse-drawn vehicles and heav,
traffic. Adjoining each Of these las,
named roads will be dirt roads. fifteei
feet wide. under which will be lai'
water pipes. sewers. telephone an,
telegraph conduits. etc. thus eliminsl
ing any necessity for tearing up tn
paved portion Of the road