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Show Good Road in Utah i "V I MOKfc than ever the importance of good roaJs in the future development of Utah is mak- ing itself evident. Each succeeding year finds' ; more and more motor vehicles in use on the ; public highways. This simply means tu n me ' i city and the country are being brought closer together. It also means that the undeveloped sections are being brought into closer relation ; with the established sections of the state. ; Good roads, however, mean something morj . than new roads. While it is true that the needs - of the state require frequent extensions of our . road system, it is also true that these extensions T lose a great part of their worth when we fail to :. maintain the roads heretofore established. Good roads should be highways which will carry the maximum amount of traffic with the minimum ; amount of wear and tear on the vehicles usin them. Paved highways are not always good roads. - . In some sections of the state we have natural roads whieh-afe better than some of the paved .; streets in Salt Lake. The reason for this is that the old dirt roads are given constant attention, : while the paved streets are forgotten after they 5 are constructed and paid for. Stretches in the Highland Drive paving are startling examples of T the neglected highway.- " ). For a number of years this highway has been i " gradually going to pieces. It becomes wor; with each succeeding year, because the neglect to ? which-It hav been subjected stimulates disintegra-i disintegra-i Won, Early this spring the county commission 1 promised to mend the broken spots in the hih- way, but it now seems doubtful if they intend to complete the work this year. When the" protests were silenced, official interest seemed to cease. The maintenance of roads should not be a matter of public clamor. Our roads should be - regarded as public property and public officials should exercise the same care In preserving them that they do with other tangible property. Good roads are impossible if no official at- tention is given to them after they are com pleted. New roads are not worth the effort if they are to be neglected as the old ones. Public officials Vho are charged with this work must remember that a system of good roads is depen- dent not alone upon the building of new. roads - each year, tut upon proper care for those al- ready established as well. ' |