Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-01-20

'HIS is the caption OF little
booklet issued by the Pennsyl-
4 vania Good Roads Association
to- the supporters of the move
mont for better highways in this
State. It constitutes an admirable
presentation Of the whole good roads
question and ought to arouse wide
spread interest in a problem which
concerns all classes of our popula-
ton.
Inasmuch as this association is nom
partisan and striving for good roads
because of their economic and ethical
value to all the people" the movement
must appeal to thousands in every
corner of the Commonwealth. Spe-
cial stress is laid upon the value of
good roads in their effect upon the
prosperity and happiness of the peo-
pie, "the cost and pleasure of living,
the exchange of commodities the
valuation of properties, the social
and educational welfare of citizens
and even the thought of a nation"
Through amendments to the Sproul
act by the last Legislature there are
now 1,400 miles of roads in Pennsyl-
vania that form connecting links be-
tween all the county seats and other
important communities. Failure of
the proposed loan for the mainte-
nance and reconstruction OF these
roads taken over by the State means
4
the townships through which they
pass or be cared for by the Common
wealth. 1t is for the purpose of Civ
ing force and effect to the good roads
propaganda that the association has
been organized and is now inviting
the active cooperation through men,
bership in the working out of prac-
teal plans for improvement of the
highways of the State. No move for
a bond issue can be made for five
years since the voting down of the
$50,000,000 loan and other means
must be provided.
Repeating the Sproul act and
throwing back upon 1900 townships
these 1.400 miles of roads, as indi-
Gated by the Good Roads Association,
would be a serious step backward and
should not be considered; but some
thing must be done and the associa-
tion presents the only practical solu-
tion-the increasing of State appro-
pr1ations for new construction and
scientific maintenance of the high
ways which have had no attention
whatsoever.
Perhaps the most hopeful feature
OF the new movement is the pledge
of the association to promote COOP
GRAFTON between tho road authorities
of the State and the townships"
Another interesting proposition
which is tentatively submitted by the
association is the employment of
prison labor in the highway work.
Such measure was presented In the
last Legislature and had no serious
opposition, but was permitted to fall
through indifference in the Senate.
1t is contended in advocacy of con-
Vict labor for roads that there is in it
"an element of justice to both the
convicts and the State and counties
to the convict, that he may be en-
abled through lessons of endurance
and skill to develop a vigor of man
hood useful to himself and society:
to the State and counties, for the rea-
son that they would be receiving some
return for the enormous cost of
maintaining the State and county
prisons with their thousands of able
bodied inmates" The association
says in conclusion:
1--WE believe the use of prison labor
on the public roads is a subject that
is entitled to the serious considera-
ton of the citizens and taxpayers of
PENNSYLVANIA"