The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1921-01-06
GOOD ROADS

In the current Issue OF the Sunshine
State, B. J. Sweat, former engineer
and contractor and now president OF
the First National bank of Dell Rapids,
outlines a course of action for South
Dakota to obtain good roads that is
well worth reading. The article runs
as follows:
In talking with Mr.. Miller, editor of
The Sunshine State, some months ago,
the writer happened to mention to him
that he had had about thirty years
experience as engineer and contractor
in the construction and maintenance
of railways and highways, and imme-
diately a request was forthcoming for
an article on good roads.
The rapid development Of South Da.
kota and the coming into general use
of motor driven vehicles, has created
a demand for better highways. This
demand came from those using auto
mobiles for pleasure but 1t is now
spreading to the rural population and
TO those who use the highways for
tIdUSDOl ~ mo uShh"HN 80 49, 49,
spread until a large majority are in
favor OF permanent highways. BY per-
manent highways | mean those that
are hard surfaced. as there is no such
thing as a permanent dirt, gravel or
macadam road.
Ten years ago / started to advocate
hard surfaced highways as the proper
solution of the transportation problem.
At that time there were very few in
deed who agreed with my line of argu-
ment. but today it is quite generally
conceded that a well constructed n
well maintained system of hard sur
faced highways is absolutely necessary
to the proper development of our coun-
try, both commercially and socially.
Last spring | wrote to about a dozen
highway engineers in the state OF Iowa
who had had experience in he con-
struction and maintenance Of gravel
roads, asking them whether or not
this type Of construction was proving
to be satisfactory, the life Of an ordi-
nary six-inch gravel road and whether
or not the people were In favor OF
continuing the construction OF this
class of highways. Every reply indi-
Gated that this type OF construction
was not giving satisfaction, that the
life of a six-inch gravel road was from
two to FIVE years, depending on the
amount of traffic. and that the people
we're fast coming over to the hard sur
facing of all important highways. An
automobile trip of about q thousand
miles in the state Of Iowa last July,
proved to the satisfaction OF the
writer, that graveled roads were out
of the question for highways Of i'm
portance.
My observations Of highways con-
structed jointly, by the federal, state
and county governments, has led me
to conclude that this arrangement for
highway construction Is not satisfac-
tory, inasmuch as responsibility Is
never definitely fixed and, therefore,
satisfactory results are never obtain
ed. An example Of this Is the Sioux
Falls-Dell Rapids highway on which
the first half of the road constructed
is going to pieces before the second
half has been accepted, the roadbed
is entirely too narrow for safety, the
grade line improperly laid, drainage
Improperly taken care of and the con-
struction work improperly performed.
l am an advocate Of three systems
of highways, viz: Federal, state and
county. The federal system to con-
sist of at least two highways, both
east and west and north and south
through each state and so connected
with highways in adjoining states as
to form through routes for Interstate
traffic. These highways to be located,
constructed and maintained by the
state. The county system to include
all highways in each county which
are not included in either of the other
two systems. The present township
system of roads has been entirely
eliminated, as it is too expensive to
maintain so many practically indie
pendent organizations, working with
no particular head or supervision. In
many respects it would be preferable
to also eliminate the county system
and place these highways under the
control of the state. but this would
probably moi be practical from a pc.
litical standpoint.
It is very fortunate for South Da-
kota that so little money has been
expended on highway work up to the
present time, SO it gives an opportu-
nifty to profit by the experience Of
other states as regards highway laws,
organization, types Of highways, meth
DDS of construction and maintenance.
1t would be the very best investment
to employ a high class engineer and
send him on a tour Of investigation
in Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois. Wiscon-