The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1913-12-25
QUESTION OF BETTER ROADS
Not Alone Affects Farmer and Auto.
mobiIist, but 10 Of Vital impor-
lance to Everybody.

The good roads question IL one
which today Is occupying the atten-
ton OF every thinking man In the
United States. This question does
not affect alone the farmer or auto
mobilist but is one which 10 Of vital
Importance to all 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
stufYs 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 $4,000 and 10000 miles OF
improved roads in the United States.
either under construction or proposed.
no section Of road IL receiving the
careful investigation or 10 being
watched az closely BY the road max
ers Of the country and by good roads
advocates, a. IL the 106-mile road
which Gen. T. Coleman du Pont 10
constructing at his own expense
through the state Of Delaware.
General du Point felt that any
amount Of money he might give for a
road would be Of far greater benefit
and would have q far greater infiu-
ence on the happiness and material
prosperity Of the people Of his state
than any other project he might Sc
lect. To quote his own words: my
object in building the road is not only
to provide a good highway where II
IL badly needed. but also to work out
In practical way q problem that will,
II successful. revolutionize the build.
ing Of roads In the United States. The
problem Is. How can free country
road be built to make II pay its origi
nal cost. cost OF maintenance and a
fair return on the money invested"
| The solution OF this problem az
worked out by General du Pont, as a
result Of his experience on the Della
ware road. 10 q system of graduated
assessments. SO arranged that all who
receive direct benefits from the road
are TO bear their share of It's 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 thii
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 Of
land have been condemned for every
mile of road. Revenue from the road
will be partially derived from trolle,
franchises. from water, telephone. tel
egraph and sewer right Of way rentals
and partially from the rental of tha
part of the twenty-six acres per mil,
which 10 not used for actual road con
struction.
A laid out. the du Point 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 trafic be
comes heavier. When completed thu
road will consist of . forty-foot striI
In the middle. which will be givel
over to automobiles. and on eithe
side Of this forty-foot strip . fifteen
foot strip. which has been reserve,
for trolley lines. Beyond the trolle.
lines there will be thirty.foot road
for horse-drawn vehicles and heav;
trsfic. Adjoining each of these las,
named roads will be dirt roads. nfteel
feet wide, under which will be lai,
water pipes. sewers. telephone ant
telegraph conduits. etc. thus elimina'
ing any necessity for tearing up tn
payad portion Of the road