Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-07-20
ROAD IMPROVEMENT.

Approximately $206, 100000 was
spent last year on public roads in the
United States, according to statistics
prepared by the U. S. department of
agriculture. In 1904 the total was only
SIS, 100000. In nine years, therefore,
the increase has been over $50 per
cent.
This awakening on the part of the
country TO the Importance of good
roads, has, experts say, been due in
great measure to the principle of state
aid to counties and other local COM
munities. New Jersey began the move
ment in 1891 when it passed it's state
highway law. Massachusetts and Yer
mont followed year later, but for the
most part the other states were slow to
move. In 1904 only fifteen had state
highway departments; today there are
only six that have not. In 1913 the in
dividual states appropriated total of
$3S, 755,0SS to supplement local expen-
ditures.
The value of this state aid is, how
ever, not to be measured by the figures
alone, for the bulk of the money comes,
and always must come, from the ccun-
ties and townships. Thus, in 1912, the
cash outlay by counties, districts and
townships. was s137.493.9s5. Complete
figures for 1913 are not yet available,
but IL is safe to estimate the sum at
approximately S151, 100000. To this
must be added some S15,00O,0 to rep
resent the value of the labor contribu-
ted instead of cash in districts where
this practice prevails. Last year.
therefore, local communities contribu-
ted in round numbers, one hundred
and sixty millions of dollars, as against
appropriations from state treasures of
| $3S, 755, OSS.
The true importance of this thirty
eight millions lies in the fact that il
means expert supervision of the ex-
penditure of a considerable portion of
the vast sum OF two hundred millions.
When each county built as it chose and
when 1t chose, the services of trained
engineers were usually ont of the ques-
tion. There was little opportunity to
test innovations, little advance in the
science OF bodybuilding, and there was
also difficulty in arousing each county
individually to do its best to improve
conditions within its own limits. State
aid has changed all this. The best en-
gineering skill is available for all
works OF importance. there is cooper
alton and a constant stimulus TO fur
Their improvements. The money con-
tributed by the states does not only
build more roads. It makes better those
that other money builds.
At the present time there are IN the
United States 20,741 miles of roads i'm
proved either wholly or in part by
state aid. This is nearly the mileage
OF the French routes nationales. the
system of the great national highways
which is the envy of every civilized
nation. The routes nationales are, of
course, only a small part OF the total
mileage OF France, where practically
every road of any importance is an i'm
proved road, and France is a vastly
smaller county, both in area and in
population than the United States, so
that this comparison Is not, in ITSELF
very fattering to our progressiveness
IL shows. however. that we have at
least made a beginning. or the 2,226.-
S42 miles OF roads in the United States.
22S.774 miles. or approximately 10 per
cent are classed as improved.