Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1916-03-30


The highways which have
spread over this country until
tAAV have reached every place OF
fbitation, was the work of a
progressive people that tried to
Tneet the needs of advancing CIV
ilization.
When the Indians held do
rainion over the land, the forest
and river supplied his food and
clothing. The pathway was all
that he needed for the transpor-
tation of the few things that he
possessed. With the coming of
the early settlers, the pathway
was widdened until it became a
trail that would permit horses
10 carry load over it. Later as
the population increased and
civilization advanced, the need
of a better means of transpor-
sation was keenly felt, SO the
Syail was made wide enough to
accommodate alteam and wagon,
and thus became a highway,
many of which have remained IN
nearly an original state OF pre-
sgrvatlon.
In the course Of time, the bus
mess demands for better roads
caused individuals to form COM
r,anies for the purpose Of build
ing and maintaining turnplkes.
In building these turnplkes,
some effort was made to locate
The road or a grade that was
somewhat regular, and the road
hed was usually covered with
B loose layer Of broken stone,
which was packed down,in time,
hv the traffic, and made fairly
solid road, even in wet weather,
MT this way Of placing the stone
the road did not prove alto
sather satisfactory, as the cuts
81 the loose stone, by driving
some down in the earth and push
0thers sidewise to roll around IN
the road as loose stone.
Toll houses we're located ev-
erv few miles for the purpose OF
collecting the required toll from
the travellers for use of the turn
rike, and in this manner the ma
lority of these companies con-
sinued to operate until the turn
pikes were bought by the county
Or the state.
This had been the extent OF
Highway improvement develop
I'd in a century until about 1903,
-ghen the country awoke to a
4ull realization that our high
ways did not meet the demands
. If business development, so at
I last the highway problem was
: taken up as a subject worthy OF
serious consideration, and the
good roads movement was
started, which has spread from
me Atlantic to the Pacafic and
brought about a spirit Of co-op-
Grafton among men that has
never been equaled and which
Il the very foundation of this
important work. Universities
nave recognized the importances
Sf this question and have adopt
"a regular courses in highway
improvement, while technical
magazines have been carrying
IA an educational campaign by
publishing the records of work
That has been done in the differ
ent places and the manner IN
which difficulties were overcome
that We might profit by the ex-
perience of the pioneers in this
1 work.
Thus the work of highway
building has developed from the
clearing of the sides Of the trail
10 the construction and mainten-
Snca of our modern paved roads
on which was spent in the year
If 1914, $250,000,000 ,as report
ed BY the United States office OF
public roads.
We have reached the place
where better highways are just
rs important in the development
&c rural business, as the railroad
facilities are to the nanufac-
8urers because most Of the bust
aess Of today is governed by the
cost of placing the products in
the hands Of the ultimate con-
sumner, consequently, transporta-
lion is. one Of the mai, things