PART FOUR-ROADS 



CHAPTER XXIII 

 IMPORTANCE OF ROADS 



History. The object of a road is to furnish a way for 

 travel and the transportation of products. The art of road 

 construction runs back before the time when history was 

 written, and roads have appeared in a country whenever its 

 people have shown a tendency to become civilized. 



There is abundant evidence at hand to show that a paved 

 road existed in Egypt as early as 4000 years B. c. No doubt 

 the material for the great pyramids was transported over a 

 part of this road. Much of the history of Carthage and 

 Rome relates to the construction of their roads, which were 

 used for the transportation of soldiers and supplies. The 

 success of the Roman Empire as a great nation is largely due 

 to its system of improved roads, over which its armies could 

 be moved quickly. Ancient Rome had no less than 372 

 great roads, aggregating about 50,000 miles, and which, it 

 has been estimated, would cost under modern conditions as 

 much as $5,000,000,000. All the civilized nations through- 

 out the world have given the matter of road construction 

 careful attention. 



The Extent of Our Roads. There are in the United 

 States 2,150,000 miles of public roads. About one-half of 

 this mileage, however, is but little used, and no doubt in 

 time a part will be found unnecessary and will be discon- 

 tinued. 



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