Roadbuilding Problem

"Wlrile the adiufcriitrutivo part of oadmaMng in thia country cannot bo aid to have passed the experimental tage, " says one of the constantly growng immbcr of "gcod roads" men to a epresentative of the Philadelphia Press, yet it is vrell and actively begun. Nearly every state in the ünion has ately passed laws bcaring on the presut moveruent for improved highways. Vhile these laws show a variety of plans and methods by whioh. the ono iommon object is to be gained they inifonnly show that the real difficulty s not how to build gcod roads as an ngiueering problem, but rather who hall build them, how shall the moucy )e raised with whioh to build them, and by -what agency shall it be expended. And ia successfully iiitrouucing this movement these questions raust first be wiscly settled bcfore any actual road coustruction can be engaged in. Some joioncei' vrork must be done before any general plan can be intelligently offered, rnuch less acceptcd, fortbe comprehensive treatnient of onr present bad roads disorder. "The abolition of the plan of poll tax and the substitntion of a cash payment into a town or country road fund to be expended under contract to cxperienced roadbuilders, superintcnded by a competent eonnty oföcial, are two of the easy steps by which a comprehensive plan can be approached. They are easy of execution, and the immediate results are so favorable that the farmer at once agrees to the wisdom of the plan. To put into operation a law which will place a slight tax upon the naríow tire is ancthcr means of getting those most interested to appreciate that the road question must receive intelligent treatment iiot ouly at the hands of our lcgislators, but from every citizen whose business bas anythmg to do with roacls. "tícveral States have passed the early stages of tho work and are ncw carryirig out carefully devised plans for ultimately bringing the community into full eryoyruent of gcod roads. It is a long step between these simple preliniiaries and the ,larger plan. To basten jrogress all states now ackuowledged as eaders in. this work, such as New Jerey, California, Vermont, New Hampairc, New York, Massaehusetts and ühode Island, have appointcd commisions to give special Bttidy to the quesions in all its relations to the state and eport back to the legislatures with recmmendations touching future legislaion and purtictilar plans for developing eysteruatio state róad system. '