Show 0 increasing VALUE OF LANDS I 1 immense uncultivated area cannot ile be developed until improved highways are constructed there are over acres 0 ot f uncultivated land in the united states awaiting development that cannot bo be developed without improved highways it haa bas been shown that tile the value ot of land Is increased evenly with the improvement pro tor for tile the roads the running from 2 to 9 the acre As the iho roads are improved there is a corresponding increase tn creaso in population la in twenty five counties taken at random which have hava contained on an average only 1 per cent ot of improved roads la in the decade 1890 to 1900 there was a falling off in population of in each county in other counties taken at random in which there was an average ot of 40 N A V good road in nebraska per cent of improved roads tho the increase of population in each county was the back to the tarm farm movement will progress just in proportion to tile the improvement of tho the highways and the tha improvement of tho the highways Is dependent upon administration not less than upon construction st there must be skill in the supervision as well as in the building ot of the roads roada heretofore at least nine tenths of the work on the roads has been done under the direction of men without any knowledge of ing which Is an art based upon a science there are today more than petty road officials in tho the united states who have no practical knowl edge ot of the simplest engineering problems that must be solved in the location of the tha roads in their relation to a general or to related systems but who are supposed to have bavo great influence in neighborhood politics and are mighty at the polls it la in from this incubus that the problem must be ba relieved it if the country Is to enjoy the benefits of a well ordered system of highways good roads not only cost a great deal of money in their construction but also in their maintenance orad or administration athas been the habit la ia this country to work on the roads roada when all other work was done and this has meant that the roads roada bavo had attention only once or twice a year macadam roads do not take taka care of themselves concrete roads roada should have constant attention sand band clay roads require dally daily supervision it if they are to give service for which i they hey were designed and built in franca every mile ot of road Is inspected dally daily and it la Is the constant vigilance of trained supervision that enables the railroads of 0 tho the country to take care of the business of the country there ought to bo be tho the same sort and degree of supervision of the roads of tho the united states it they are to give the service for which they are built to make a 1 mile of macadam road eight feet wide and eight inches thick 1760 tons ot of stone are required and to build a mile of gravel road eight feet wide and eight inches thick cubic yards of compacted or 1664 cubic yards of loose gravel are required and in order that the best results may bo ba obtained there must bo be competent supervision not only in tho the mixing ot of the materials employed in the building of tho roads ot of the several types but in the placing of materials there are miles ot of what aro are commonly called dirt roads lilt in the united states and to make them effective there must be proper drain age such grading and alignment as aa will make them fit for the traffic find and constant surface betterment and it la Is nothing short of criminal waster waste to build roads road of macadam and expect them to take care of themselves undoubtedly the best beat system of maintenance tor for all roads Is that which provides tor for the tha permanent and sometimes continuous employment ot of skilled led laborers who havo have charge of particular sections ot of road or who may be assigned to tp any part ot of thi tha county or other road unit where there Is work most needed canadian stone highway A atone highway to cost ts to bo be built from ottawa canada 60 miles south couth to tho the st lawrence river international boundary it la ia stated that the road la a to be ba built as a memorial to the lato late J P whitney premier ot of ontario all year round roads good roads help small towns railroads build up tho the great cities but all the year round roads turn the stream of oc wealth travel and business back towards tho the rural centers |