Each month we will post amusing and interesting items from past issues of Better Roads throughout the 75 years the magazine has been published.

Perhaps we can find a way to learn from the past.

The following items were taken directly from Better Roads issues from 1931, the first year that the magazine was published.

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From 1931 Issues

We’ve come a long way, baby!

“Of the 300,000-mile system of state highways, a total of approximately 200,000 miles is now surfaced. Of the remaining 2,700,000 miles of rural roads, little over 15 per cent is out of the earth-surface class.”

Gee, our old LaSalle ran great

 “Here indeed is food for thought. The development of luxurious motor vehicles has its counterpart in the development of safer and more pleasant and comfortable roads. With touring no longer a novelty, the highway user has acquired a concern about what may be called the amenities of motor travel.”

The visionary governor

Regarding his state’s farm-road program, one of the first in the United States at the time, Pennsylvania Governor Gifford Pinchot wrote in a 1931 issue of Better Roads,

 “…the commonwealth of Pennsylvania took over 20,000 miles of rural roads – the farmer’s roads—to build them and maintain them at state expense. This means not only that farmers on this mileage will be lifted by the mud, but the yearly $10,000,000 will be lifted from the backs of the farmer taxpayers of Pennsylvania.”

Ohio Motor-Vehicle Act

“A change in the system of taxing motor vehicles and in the distribution of such tax funds will provide additional highway funds for Ohio counties. The new measure exempts motor vehicles from personal property taxation and increases the cost of license tags.”

Building low-cost roads in Iowa

“Winneshiek County finds heavier equipment necessary to carry out new duties imposed by the Bergman Law (this law gave control of all township roads, formerly in the care of township trustees, to title boards of supervisors and engineers); small dragline shovel combination proved ideal unit.” The dragline was a Speeder ½ yard unit. Speeder is the predecessor to the modern-day Linkbelt Company.

Bargain prices prevail in North Dakota 

According to the North Dakota State Highway Department, “at the July 31 letting, contracts for gravel hauling at 6-1/2 cents per yard-mile and earth excavating at 15 cents per cubic yard were awarded.”

Plans for Wichita Road Show

“Plans are being completed for the seventh annual Southwest Road Show and School, to be held at Wichita, Kan. On Feb. 23, 24,25 and 26, 1932. Lectures on road construction and maintenance will be delivered by some of the ablest authorities in the country.”

Economy of treated timber

“Modern highway bridges constructed of treated timber should not be confused with or compared to the timber bridge of a generation past, any more than other present types should be compared to their predecessors.”

State-wide numbering system

“The numbering and marking of county roads in Kansas will soon be complete throughout the state through the cooperative efforts of Kansas counties.”

Oil-mixed surface applied on Indiana Road

“Mixed-in-place construction employing asphaltic road oil and local gravel as aggregate was used this summer to surfacing approximately 5 miles of the county road around Bass Lake in Starke County, Ind. The smooth, dustless completed surface has met with the complete approval of road users and dwellers in the vicinity.”

Mr. A.K. Olsen, County Engineers report:
Union County, Iowa

“Here are two statements bearing on the essential tools of road building that can be pondered with profit by many county engineers”:

-“Motorized maintenance equipment is proving itself a money-saver in every way.”

-“Efficiency and economy cannot be achieved without an organization of experienced men.”

Preparing for Winter

“Year by year, the picture changes; annually, there is recorded a greater mileage of roads open to traffic the year round.

In truth, the cleared highway is a necessity and no longer a luxury.

Organizing a New York county for snow removal

As a result of its geographical situation, Chautauqua County, N.Y. is subject to intense local snowstorms…(which) has necessitated the organization of an elaborate system of dispatching plowing equipment. Trucks and snowplows, the drivers of which can be reached at anytime by telephone, are stationed and held at strategic points….

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