The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-04-22
The Present Situation
As To Good Roads
Director United States Office Of p,,bl,. po.1.
By L. w. PAGE

HttA ID lsht ~ III n III lhe
minds of clear thinking men through
cut this country. The t~echnicalities
in the construction Of various
typcs of highways are we'll understood.
The cost of the various standards Of
construction can be determined under
Given set Of conditions with greater
accuracy than ever before. The neces-
asry type Of road for given traffic
conditions is less n question of debate
than il was ever five ears Ago.. There
nv grown up during the past two de- |
sades sufficient information on the
subject OF highways to enable any |
serious minded man to form definite
judgments with "A reasonable amount
Of study.
Yet. Notwithstanding his favorable
situation. there remain many impor-
tant questions of an economic, finan-
eial, and administrative nature which
must he patiently worked out. There
iy no doubt OF the economic advan-
Gage TO any community Of a system
II improved highways. There is grave
doubt. however, in many instances,
whether many of our states or the
subdivisions OF the State, have develop
ed SUI lscicntly strong highway admisis-
iYaiive ny stems to undertake the CON
struction of highways on the scale
which is necessary to effectually meet
The requirements. There have been,
tor example. during the past few years.
upwards OF $275,000 900 in bonds is
sued by states. counties. and town
ships for the construction of lnlproN-
I'd roads. Many of these bond issues
nave been floated with absolutely no
provision for maintaining the roads
when constructed and with the term
of the bonds cut IF all proportion to
he probable life of the road. Types
Of construction have been adopted in
many instances which are unSuited to
local conditions n which are Of so
temporary a character that thew can
not be regarded as d good investment.
There il probably no community
within our boundaries which would
not be benefited economically by an
adequate system of improved high
ways. The economic benefits arising
from Improved roads are not. how
ever. the only benefits a~ccruing to the
community. h general uplift in
social conditions wherever the roads
have been sufficiently improved is re-
markable. The construction Of con-
aolidated schools has been made pos
Nble, hurc congregations have be-
gun 10 build up, and the rural free
delivery systems have been increased
81 efficiency and extent. In a county
N Virginia which has recently con.
atructed AZ miles OF improved grave
roads under a bond issue. the improve
m.nt in appearance Of the farms alons
.hc roads has been remarkable. Their
nave been, for example, miles of new
fencing built to say nothing of tn
strengthening up Of ~drivcways ant
walks and the general betterrnent 0
d"or-yard appearances. We ar
hodnd, however. to consider the que
ZION of road improvement in the lirs
instance from a business standpoint
Ihdt ~ to say, WI must try and lin
ont what a given coHmunity. Is JUST
tied in ~eypending for a given degre
81 road Improvement. 70 DO this "
need TN estimate OF the service wfiic
= proposed system Of road will ref
der. Now. the interesting situatio
which develops in this connection
mat the Eiost conservative estimate
Vi the annual reduction in haulin
costs juStiiies in nearly every instant
the Improvement OF the roads. r.
example. If a road Il miles long
carrying an average daily traffic
80 tons. "a reduction in the cost
naming Of i've cents per ton mile Wi
save, tor each mile of such "a roa
500 q year. If $3.50 will pay TT
interest ON the cos OF improvement
each mile OF this road and if the Al
hl@l road tax will pay the maintenan
"a thjs work. the community is ju
'.'i IA making the investment.
81 - possible for any county Whit
~coHtomplates road Improvement
o'l"i mine with a fair degree OF q
'uFaoy What roads TO improve and no
'hurh they should cost, Frequent
n'"eNers instead Of employing G.
pert highway engineers for such ser
see, the county issues bonds for a &C
am AMOUNT and declares emphatici
That so many miles of o must
punt with tho proceeds. Worse st
IA some counties there is written IN
The bond election call the names
"a" roads to be improved and up
summation Ii Is found that the loo
Lon of such roads has, in many
stances, been determined by the pt
sonai desires OF influential citizel
or That the locations have been ma
"ltnout due consideration OF the
tufe service which the roads M
feldcr. For example. n certain cot
recently issued several hundr
EngflS1 nd lnllard In bonds for 70