Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-07-09
$4,000 MILES SURFACED
HIGHWAYS IN THE U. S.
Modern Good Roads Movement" Had lncep
ton in 1880; Billion and Half
More Dollars Needed

per cent as OF SdHQ-Cldy, lUSo per
cent as of asphalt and other bitumi-
nous materials. 391 per cent of con-
crete and 0.62 per cent of brick. The
figures for the asphaltic and brick
types.--a total of 1853 per cent show
the extent to which the city types Of
pavement have been adopted in the
rura! districts. The wooden block and
the granite block types do not appear
to have progressed as Yet beyond. the
City boundaries.
According to figures compiled by
the Federal Bureau of Public Roads
there are now 22o&0 miles OF Federal
Aid roads in the United States. These
have cost s361.o46.S6S. Latest figures
compiled by The Asphalt Association.
New York. show that s343, 67S,712.36
were made available in $50 new high
way bond issues b. states, counties,
townships, road districts and munich
palities in May and June this year.
This makes si.343,6 $3.50 now available
for road work in the United States
during the next two years.
Push and Persistence
sistent efforts on the part of the adVo-
Gates and the formation of militant
organiza tions everywhere that The
Good Roads Movement" has been car
! ried ~ its present high estate. The
automobile and the motor truck have
done more to form a favorable scnt'
! mcnt than any other agency.
; While state road building policies
were nothing new. in view of the &C
tion inaugurated by Kentucky in
1921 which resulted in the completion
Of 343 miles of state roads by 1887,
very little had been accomplished by
any of the states or the Federal gov
crnmcnt beyond the construction of
the toll roads aud the old National
Road" from Cumberland, Md. to ST.
Louis, Mo. The latter was begun in
Thomas jefferson.
{ The first state aid Law was passed
| by the New Jersey Legislator" in 1921.
| The next year The National League
! for Good Roads was formed to CON
duct a vigorous campaign for the es-
| tablishmcnt Of a Federal highways bu-
ieau. In 1893 the department of
! Agriculture. in accordance with an act
! of Congress approved March 8. 1898
established the Office of Road Inquiry
! to investigate systems Of road man
agement throughout the United states
! The automobile was introduced
! from 1895 to 1900, giving the move
! ment an impetus that pushed it far to
the front The introduction of the
motor truck in 1904 sent it forward to
even greater heights. The following
year New York state took the lead b,
appropriating $4,000. 600 for good
roads. In 1912 the first Federal Aid
| Convention was held by the American
Automobile Association at Washing
ton and Congress established a joint
committee to go into the whole field OF
government participation in road
work. That year. too. Congress ap.
propriated 100000 for the improve.
ment of selected post roads. Indy id,
ual local and state highway official l.
established in office in the meantime
began their agitation. New jersey
established the first state highway
commission in 1892. and Massachu
sets followed in 1898 not only with
commission but a state highway sys
| tenn. Today As states have highway
departments.
Of the agencies that are now fight
ing for highway Improvement. Sc are
organized movements for the con
structicn of certain national or inter
state highways, - are nationa, or in
tcrState.