West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-01-20
A Good Roads Tour in Pennsylvania
tBy A. b. FarQuhar. president the A.
b. Farquhar Company, Limited,
York, Pal

Editorial Introduction. - Governor
Martin @. Brumbaugh OF Pennsylvania
is deeply interested In the improve
ment OF the highways OF the state. and
this fall. In order to see in Just what
condition the highways OF the state
highway system were I'm. arranged an
extensive automobile tour over about
one thousand miles OF the roads over
which the sta.e highway department
has full control and Jurisdiction. on
this trip the governor invited large
number of officials and representative
business men who are interested in
the improvement of the highways in
the commonwealth OF Pennsylvania, in
order that they might see what had
been done In improving the roadG and
what would be needed in the future to
still further improve them so that they
would serve at the lowest possible
transportation cost the largest num-
bers OF farmers and others who have
to depend upon the highways for the
marketing OF their farm and other pro-
ducts. The list of guests included a
number OF prominent manufacturers
OF road building machinery and road
materials. Among the former was Mr..
A. b. Farquhar, president OF the A. b.
Farquahar Company, Limited, York.
Pennsylvania. the largest manufactur-
er OF farm machinery. road tractors,
etc, in the state. and one OF the fore
most road enthusiasts of Pennsyi-
vania. Mr.. Farquhar has written
about his trip as follows:
Il have Just returned from thou
sand-mile tour over the roads OF Penn
sylvania with the governor and party,
and 1t was. on the whole. the most in
teresting and altogether delightful.
weeks Journey that have ever made.
The weather was perfect and the for
ests were beautifully tinted, especial
ly on the mountain ranges.
"The governor invited as to 10 and
see what Pennsylvania has accom-
plished in the way OF road building
and road maintenance. TO see where
there is real necessity for more good
roads, and to have us become better
acquainted with Pennsylvania's mar
velous scenic beauty. We started from
Harrisburg on Monday morning and
returned on Saturday night. Our
route lay through the Cumberland VAL
ley via Carlisle, Chambersburg, Bed
ford, and thence through the Allie
gheny mountains 10 Pittsburgh, via
Altoona, Hollidaysburg and then to
Huntington, Williamsport Sunbury,
Wilkes-Barre and through the Pocono
mountains TO Delaware Water Gap,
where the party dispersed Nearly all
OF this route was over well made and
well maintained roads. where we could
travel from thirty to forty miles an
hour with comfort. 1t may surprise
many to know that Pennsylvania has
more miles OF good roads than any 9TH
er state excepting New York, but we
still have far less than we should have
do not think that we could have
taken a thousand mile trip anywhere
else in the world where the scenery IA
more beautiful. The highways were
decorated with flags and the children
from all the schools lined the roads
as we passed TO give us a welcome.
At some points there were at least a
thousand children, stretching a mile
or more on either side OF the road,
waving hags and cheering to welcome
our governor. who was formerly SUI
perintendent OF public schools in Phil
adelphia. He knew just how to talk
to the children and his addresses were
in a happy vein Judging from the
applause he received he delighted the
people everywhere.
"On the whole tour we were held up
by but one toll-gate. Toll-gates
should be done away with. Our roads
should be as free as the air we breathe
Toll-gates are a relic Of barbarian.
1t would richly pay the people to have
their counties purchase the toll roads
and turn them over to the state, We
NV fHN hiDNNo VI NuE state niHnW9y
commissioner that they would then be
improved and kept In order. am sat
ished that In the long run II would
pay my own county OF York ten dol
lars for every dollar expended to ssue
bonds sufficient to purchase every toll
road in our county and 70 then make
them free. have Travelled a great
deal through Europe and elsewhere
without seeing a single toll-gate. In
many portions Of this country they
have already been done away with
While touring through the poverty
stricken portions OF Spain, Italy and
elsewhere IN Europe, I found the roads
In splendid condition and equal to the
very best OF our Pennsylvanla state
roads. asked my guide how the peo-
pie could AFFORD such splendid roads
and he replied, They are toe poor to
AFFORD the waste Of time and the three
or four horses that would be necessary
on bad roads TO pull ono-horse
load"
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/ The Coof ~ A.. r.gN