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THE STATE .HIGHWAY COMMISSION. 



A. N. Johnson. 



Road making is a science. Not until this fact is appreciated 

 and our roads are built and maintained in accordance with the 

 underlying scientific principles, both as regards construction and 

 business methods employed, there will be a just return to the 

 taxpayers for money raised for this purpose. 



We are apt to think that the art of road making is much 

 farther advanced in Europe than in this country. This is not 

 so, for, as a matter of fact, some of the best constructed roads, 

 and roads employing the best methods of construction, are to 

 be found in the United States, but it is a fact that such con- 

 struction is not very general. The prevalence of better road 

 conditions in some European countries is due in part to the 

 improved methods of maintenance rather than to advanced 

 methods of construction. But here, again, we can point to cer- 

 tain sections of this country where the roads are not only as 

 well constructed but as well maintained as will be found in 

 any European country. This fact applies to the state highways 

 of Massachusetts, which are thoroughly well constructed and 

 equally well maintained. 



Illinois has recognized that road building is a science, by 

 creating a State Highway Commission whose duties are to give 

 information concerning the best methods of construction and 

 maintenance of roads and bridges ; to find out existing con- 

 ditions, and suggest means of improvement. 



The work carried on by the Commission during the past three 

 years has had for its object the encouragement of the appli- 

 cation of practical scientific principles in the construction and 

 maintenance of the roads and bridges of the state ; to the end 

 that more improvement may be secured by the taxpayers for 

 the money which they now expend for this purpose. 



