Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-21
New State Campaign for Good Roads

To the Editor Of the Evening Public Ledger:
Sir-The questions are: Shall the mud
blockade OF Philadelphia be raised? Shall
there be an embargo against, heavy trucks in
the state? Shall road money fly faster and
further than road dirt?
-Four years ago, when a new Governor was
installed In office. We were given to under
stand that good road building in the state
would be undertaken and pushed. At that
time there was not a good road between the
Two rivers extending northeast, north or
northwest from Philadelphia; there Is none
now.
Another Governor has been inaugurated
and we are promised that something worth
while shall be done In the way Of road build
ing not only In the neighborhood of Phila-
delphia, but throughout the state. During
the life of the new administration $50, 000,-
600 will be available for the roads, $50, OOO,-
900 a year.
The Brumbaugh administration had only
a picayune sum at its disposal and perhaps
did as well as could be expected. CONSIDERING
the patching which had TO be done upon state
roads previously built. Now with plenty of
money TO spend, II Governor Sproul does not
make good the people will be grievously dis
appointed and will want to know why. Even
before the new Governor was inaugurated he
was interviewed on the subject, and we were
Informed that dirt would soon fly to good
purpose.
But one thing the Governor said Is dis
quieting: That he would not build roads for
heavy trucks. Heavy trucks must not pass
through our state on account of the damage
they would do to the road beds. 1t was thus
evident that the Governor did not know, at
that time. much about road building or what
the requirements are or he would not have
entertained OF given utterance TO such opin-
lon. He. did not apparently know that heavy
trucks with broad tires going at the usual
rate OF ten miles an hour are not as destruc-
tive OF road beds that are properly built as
heavy limousines or Tin LiZzies" tearing
along thirty or forty miles an hour. Any
leading state road from county seat to coun-
ty seat and in and out OF great cities. built
as 1t should be built. will be improved, rather
than damaged, by the passage OF a heavy
truck. Any road inadequate for this pur-
pose, whether the trucks run on It or hot,
Will in a few years become an object of
scorn.
Nearly all of the roads the state has built
have speedily gone to rack. II has not paid.
and never will pay, TO build such roads.
II we are TO have a continuance Of the past
policy Of road building, the people OF the state
are, going TO be greatly disappointed, for after
the $50, 600, 900 shall have been spent, we will
have roads that will make the taxpayers
squirm for years to keep In repair. No, Gov
ernor. we want roads that will stand any sort
of vehicle. light or heavy. going slow or
speeding, and such as will defy the assaults
OF Jack Frost nor Yield to the lapse of time.
Whatever is worth doing at all is worth do
ing WELL 80 H'.
1t Is disgraceful that our great city should
be shut In and shut out because OF the hor-
rible conditions Of the roads. Now consider
the York road. the Limekiln, Doylestown,
Bethlehem and ReSding pixies. what do we
see? Most abominable roads that ought to
make the builders responsible for them, and
the people OF this city who, submit to them.
blush for shame.
We need to facilitate the coming of farmers
with their products from, Berks. Northamp-
ton. Lehish. Bucks. Montgomery and upper
Chester Counties, and Hunterdon County,
New Jersey. and TO give our merchants and
manufacturer easy access to all rural
populations within 100 miles Of our City
Hall.
Therefore. the idea that Governor Sproul
seemed to have had before he assumed office,
that heavy trucks must not travel over our
state highways, is not one that giyes much
promise of anything but rotten roads, such
throughout the state. II Is too soon to con-
demn the Sproul administration and the
Highway Department. but Il is the right time
to say what we need and what we expect
from them. This IL not meant to be. and il
not. an essential criticism, but simply a
friendly admonition. and the expression of a
hone that Governor sproul viii rise TO the
occasion. WILMER. ATKINSON.
rhilsdsbhia. February 10