The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1914-02-17
The WAY TO G00D ROADS.

The WAY TO GOOD ROADS, .
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Atlanta Journal.
In a recent issue OF Golfers, Ewing
Galloway tells the singularIy interest
ing story Of how Massachusetts has
evolved, and is still developing, its
famous system OF highways. The
movement and methods he depicts are
truly described as "a big chapter in
the country's vital progress, and they
are rich in suggestion to eve-y State
that is concerned with the deeply i'm
portant problem of good roads.
Massachusetts is credited with the
highest percentage of improved roads
of any State in the Union and, in
propo' ton to its area is said to have
gone furt2 in highway construction.
While its expenditures in t2is work
amount to millions OF dollars, it is
distinguished also for economy in the
building and maintenance OF the
roads; e7ery dollar appropriated
brings due results.
Such an example is we'll worth
studying, particularly in the South
where good-roads enthusiasm is now
more Widespread and inte2se than in
any other part of the Union and where,
in the next ten years, great sums Of
money will be spent fer highway ex-
tension and improvement, What is
the basis of Massachusetts, distinctive
success? In tie first place, says Mr.
Galloway, quoting tee chairmao. of the
State highway commission, there is
throughIy awakened public opinion:
'the people want good roads and are
willing to pay reasonable price for
taem" Furthermore, successive legis-
latures have been responsive to public
wishes and needs N this regard and,
beside sra 2ting liberal appropriations,
have enacted we'll consideded laws.
Most important, perhaps, is the fact
20 years ago Massachusetts established
"a State aighway commission, thus pro-
viding "a central authority to collect
statistics and other information about
roads, and to furnish general engineer
ing advice to various authorities in
charge Of highway work y
These are thee determining factors
il the Bay States roadway develop
ment. So far as public opinion goes,
Georgia compares most favorably;
there is no margin for doubt that the
majority of cur people heartily ap-
preciate the worth of good roads and
care willing to pay reasonable price
fer them" Our legislature contributed
a vast dea! to the good roads cause
when it abolished the leasing Of con-
Yicts t. private interest and placed the
prisoners at the disposal of the coun-
tics fer public highways. 1t should be
noted, however, that this is as far as the
STATE governmect has gone toward en-
couragirg highway development. The
task Of planning roads, of linking them
int strong, useful chains, of building
ITEM scientifically and maintaining
:. en- economically has been left en-
tirely to the individual counties. And
just there lies the peculiar weakness
of Georgia,s method as compared with
Massachusetts,
The pu. pose OF the Massachusetts
highway commission is not to inter-
fere with local authorities and CON-
munities but to assist them and in
crease the value of their Individual
efforts by bringing them all into CO.
OpC1 dl4NC SLSk4O4 4O4 S44C OCfO1Cp14AC11I
of apState-wide system CT good roads.
The highways, We are told, are divid-
ed ito three classes
State roads, county roads and city
or town ways. City governments
provide money for the improyemnets
or repairs in their Jurisdictions, and
the small places appropriate funds at
town meetings. County commissioners
not only look after county roads, but
also have authority to direct work
on highways in cities or toWGs.
"Tne State highway commission may
lay out as a State road any new or
existing way in any city or town upon
petition of the local government. When
a road is so laid out the commission
assumes full jurisdiction over it"
The noteworthy feature of this plan