| OCR Text |
Show ROAD BUILDING NEW BULLETIN ON RURAL HIGHWAYS (Prtparad by the UnltM ItatM Department o( Airtcultllra.) There were 2,041,294 milea of rural public roads In the United States on January 1, 1022, according to a bulletin bul-letin issued by the United State Department De-partment of Agriculture entitled "itural Highway Mileage, Income, and Expenditures, 1021 and 1022." Of the total road mileage, 387,700 milea had been Improved with some form of tur-fuclng tur-fuclng such aa aand-clay, gravel, macadam, ma-cadam, or pavement when the year 1022 began. The total road mileage la sufficient to encircle the enrth at the equator 118 times, while the surfaced mileage was sufficient to gridiron the United States with 75 eust and west routes extending from ocean to ocean, and an equul number of north and south routes extending from border to border. bor-der. Since 1021 surfaced mileage has been built at a rate of between thirty and forty thousand miles per year, of which an undetermined portion has been In the nature of resurfacing of roads previously surfaced. The bulletin Is the result of an Investigation In-vestigation by the bureau of public roads and contains the only complete report covering the entire road work of the country for any recent year, and will be valuable not only In study- Ing the present highway situation, but for the future as a record of highway Improvement progress. Complete data are given for all rural highways by states with reference to types of roads existing In 1021, mileage mile-age constructed In the years reported on, sources of highway funds and hew expended, and motor vehicle registration registra-tion statistics. The statistics ou highway high-way Income and expenditure show state funds and those of local units separately. The publication, known as Department Depart-ment Iiulletln 1270, may be obtained upon request as long as the free suit-ply suit-ply lasts. Improved Roads Sign of Progress in Community The material need and the economic value df Improved highways can hardly hard-ly be a matter of debate. It would be possible to chart the path of progress from barbarism to civilization In terms of transportation facilities, from labored la-bored pedestrlanism to flights through the clouds. And as for actual roadways road-ways for vehicles It Is probably correct cor-rect to sojr thot poor roads are the obvious advertisements of either a backward nation or a backward community, com-munity, while good roads are everywhere every-where and always the outward sign of advance and progress, says the Philadelphia Bulletin. But there are other roads than those that are built of either mud or mac-adorn. mac-adorn. There are roads to health that are paved wlth wholesome food and restful sleep and a plentiful supply sup-ply of fresh air. There are roads to wealth that are paved with ambition am-bition and Industry and thrift and Infinite patience. There are roads to success that are paved with high enterprise en-terprise and long laborious days and the kind of desire and determination which will be satisfied with nothing less than real achievement. There are roads also to failure that are not paved at all, but thut wind aimlessly along In deep-grooved ruts of Indolence Indo-lence and Ignorance and self-pity. There are also roads that lead to happiness, paved with loyalty to one's friends, devotion to one's Ideals and the spirit of generous service. There are roads to pleasure, paved with personal Indulgence, In-dulgence, that lead to nowhere and nothing, except disillusionment, and In the end, despair. Sixty Million Is Ready for Work in California Fenr that highway development In California will stop unless the gasoline gaso-line tax Is raised apparently Is with- out foundation, according to figures coming fom Sacramento. These Indicate that the state will have emit $W,ijOO,000 to $70,000,000 to spend on roads In the next biennial period without any Increase In taxes. The sums available Include $45,000,-000 $45,000,-000 that will be collected on motor vehicle ve-hicle taxe, $.000,000 that Is now In oirat!ng contracts, $12,0' 4,000 In new "instruction work by counties and read districts, $2,000,000 to be spent by the forest service, and $1,000,000 on the national park highways, a total of approximately $08,000,000 on high, ways during the next two years. If this Is not enough, more should easily be available, as It Is Indicated that the state will have a surplus of $22.0iO,(KK) In the general fund, part of , I which could be jlvevted to highway 1 construction purposes. I Highway Notes The convention of American road builders predicts perfect roads within 25 years. A perfect roud. according to our notion, will be at least twice as wide as the ones people think plenty good enough nowadays. Improved highways make every part of Pennsylvania easily accessible. Modern Mod-ern thoroughfares connect the centers of production with the centers of consumption. con-sumption. It Is possible to drive 2,000 miles In a straightaway without one 'eavlng Improved roud. |
