The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1913-04-25
QUESTION OF BETTER ROADS
Not Alone Affects Farmer and Auto
mobiIlst, but 10 Of Vital lmpor-
lance to Everybody. o

The good roads question is 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
mobiiist but is one which is OF vital
importance to all OF us, owing to the
TACT that every extension OF the good
roads movement and the completion
OF every 9 artery has resulted not
only ! n a greater production Of food
stuns In that particular section. but
a cheapened them on account Of the
small cost Of getting them into the
market
Although at the present time there
are between Is. 00O and 20, 900 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 1O6.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 .
road would be of far greater benefit
n would have a far greater infiu-
ence on the happiness and material
prosperity Of the people of his stats
than any other project he might BE-
lect. To quote his words: my
object In building the road Is not only
to provide a good highway where It
Is badly needed. but also to work out
in a practical way a problem that will,
II successful. revolutionize the build
ing OF roads in the United States. The
problem is, How can a free country
road be built to make 1t pay its origi.
nal cost, cost of maintenance and a
falr return on the money invested"
The solution Of this problem as
worked out by General du Pont, as a
Of his experience on the Della
ware road. is a system Of graduated
30 arranged that all who
receive direct benefits from the road
are to bear their share of its Der
at the outset, and will later be recon.
pensed by rentals Of the unused Dor
tons of the road itself.
Suppose, for instance. that this
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
have been condemned for every
mile of road. Revenue from the road
VIII be partially derived from trolley
franchises. from water, telephone, tel !
and sewer right Of way rentals
md partially from the rental of that
part OF the twenty-six acres per mile
which Is MOI used for actual road con-
AS laid out. the du Pont road con-
lists OF some parts, although
lot all OF them will be developed i'm
nediately, the Idea being to increase
he size Of the road as the traffic be-
comes heavier. When completed the
Dad will consist Of a forty-foot strip
n the middle. which will be given
yer to automobiles. and on either
ide OF this forty-foot strip a fifteen
DOT strip. which has been reserved
trolley lines. Beyond the trolley
there will be thirty-foot roads
horse-drawn vehicles and heavy
raf1c. Adjoining each of these last.
lamed roads will be dirt roads, fifteen
wide, under which will be laid
'ater pipes. sewers. telephone and
telegraph conduits, ETC.. thus eliminate
ng any necessity for tearing up the
portion Of the road.