CONFERENCE OF GOVERNORS. 83 



Proceedings of Third Session. 



November 24, 1908, 2 p.m. 



THE CONSTRUCTION OF HIGHWAYS. 



By Harold Pahkek, C.E., Chairman Massachusetts Highway Commission. 



The subject which has been assigned to me is one which I 

 believe to be of the greatest economic importance, and, although a 

 subject the details of which cannot be entertaining except to road- 

 builders themselves, yet, to you who are endeavoring to bring about 

 conditions in the administration of public interests which shall 

 affect the whole of New England, it must appear that the question 

 of highways and their construction is vital. 



I assume that, in discussing the question of road construction, 

 I shall be at liberty to take into account the general question of the 

 development and economics of the improved road in its relation 

 to modern life and necessities. 



It is wholly unnecessary to point out that means of transporta- 

 tion may mean the success or failure of any community. It has 

 been said by many men, in treating of this subject, that the meas- 

 ure of the civilization of any country is determined by the condition 

 of its means of transportation. As an evidence of civilization, I 

 do not agree wholly with this conclusion; but as an evidence of 

 prosperity and development, the condition of the roads of any 

 community is certainly of the greatest significance. 



Economics. 

 In considering the economic features of highways, I shall only 

 bring to your attention the fact that from the earliest times the 

 growth of the highway has, -in some degree, kept pace with the 



