Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-09-09
Ehrt1tt1g G1at

winnie tliS mas peen the greatest year
for automobile travel to and from Har-
risburg, 1t has also been marked by
some OF the severest criticism of the
condition of roads leading to the gates
of the State Capitol. Many people
from other states, especially those
from the West and South, have gone
through this State instead of follow.
ing what was getting to be the beaten
automobile path through New York
state to the New England coast and
nave stopped here. This has been
largely due to the manner in which
Seeing Pennsylvania First" has been
preached, the dissemination of factA
aoous the splendid scenery in this
the millions the State has been spend
ing on roads Unfortunately and un-.
idlriy, the State government has been
olamed for the condition Of all the
roaos. Tourists in going about Penn
syivanla are apt to strike many sec
tons OF township or borough roads.
There are over 10000 miles Of road in
PENNSYLVANIA. the State being respon-
sioie for about $4,000 miles. The
state highways are in fair shape. Not
States roads are comparable to state
ROADS In some other eastern common
wealths, not all, Of course, being in
tEat class, but enough to show that
this State can build and maintain good
roads. However, in touring a great
area like Pennsylvania persons are apt
TO get on township roads. where the
responsibility is on the rural super
visor. who, when he is interested, is
only backed by the scanty tax levy
And the State gets the blame for
NEGLECT. Some townships are taking Il
pride in their roads and as a whole tho
standard is, higher.\ But there are also
roads lying within boroughs which are
shame. 1t is said by some auto
when they strike borough by the bad
roads, a statement which may be
1ocular, but too often has elements Of
truth. One of the worst of such roads
Is right at the city's eastern line. where
the transition from a paved street at
one end or we'll kept State road at
the other is not pleasant for Harris
| burgers to experience and which ofteif
brings out from unfortunate travellers
comments which would jolt less hard
ened men than the average, borough
official. However. 1t is the same in
other parts of the State. but the truth
| Is. most of the township and borough
roads on main highways or entering
this city are not what they should be
when one considers what attractions
Harrisburg has to offer within its
limits and the fine quality Of its mu-
nicipal highways.
| In this connection it may be said
that there are some roads right close
to the city where automobilists are
forced to use one side of the road. One
part is in such shape that everyone is
using the other, turning out when
necessary and naturally bringing about
the deterioration of the used portion
| nid Va xxyi1 he all
ruined highway or some damage
suits. In Paxtang borough, for in
stance, the road which is a con-
tinuation of Derry street is being worn
down and is getting worse every day.
although half dozen projects to pave
have been discussed in the last three
months.
When the Governors party starts
out on the first tour of the farming
some of the very first highways taken
over by the State when it inaugurated
the State main system. These roads
have been gone over a good many
times in the last three years and are in
fair condition when 1t is considered
that only in a few portions have they
been rebuilt. There will also be
traversed roads which were so good
when taken that they have only needee
watching and patching, others which
had to be partially rebuilt, others of
new construction and some which are
an argument for a liberal allowance
for the immediate improvement of
difficult sections. such as along the
river between Dauphin and Sunbury.
All the state highway problems are
not construction and maintenance.
It is likely that when the next Legis-
lature meets there will be recurrence
of the demand for linking up of county
towns. Some of the county seats in
Pennsylvania lie close to each other
noted for scenic features. but the roads
connecting them will have to be re-
built. The States road superintend-
ents have accomplished much, but
what is the matter is that they are
plain dirt roads with precious little
foundation. Some of the roads con-
Meeting county seats in the picturesque
| Susouehanna basin are in startling
contrast to the excellent highways be-
tween Harrisburg and Carlisle and
Lewistown and Miff1in. for instance.
New Bloomfield. which is not far from
Harrisburg. is unknown to many resi-
dents of this city. although Perry
county has some of the finest scenery
in the central section. All 1t needs is
better roads to bring it to notice.
People who have been over the State
saw that opposition to a big bond issue
for construction of roads is nothing
like what 1t was when the election was
held a few years ago and sentiment Is
now in favor of an amendment to the
Constitution to enable the state to Dor
row fifty millions in quarters where
there was strong feeling against 1t in
1913. In short, people are beginning
to understand that no State can build
roads out of current revenue, still less
when it has a proposition ike that
| ,ub;ch cnnfrOntS Pennsylvania.