According to Chudacoff in The Evolution of American Urban Society, urban cities started devoting much of their time and efforts to build roads for better transportation. 
New roads were needed because the existing ones weren’t ‘up to par’. Because of this, “American streets were cleaner, better constructed, and better lightened than the European counterparts” (11). Streets that were better constructed lead to better health, less urban dangers, and decrease in public health.
Although the roads weren’t as complex and ‘high tech’ as the one on the right, building and fixing roads centuries ago helped to create a platform for the future. With this advancement, it was easier to build upon it and repair what was already done. Also, with better roads, it is easier to travel. Travel= seeing people= money. Cities with better roads became more populated (such as New York City) and up to this day are still heavily populated.
I definitely think this argument is historically significant. Without a well-developed road system, cities would lose their appeal because no one would travel to trade within them. It’s important to know that roads were being improved upon as far back as the 1700’s to fully understand the evolution of New York City and cities in the U.S. in general. On a scale of 1-10, I’d rate this argument a 7.
Hello Friend,
You get a 7.5! I agree very much with you in that roads were essential to growth and development of the city. In the earlier readings of Chudacoff it states that cities must be efficient and well organized. If the streets are cleared and usable then many other things will fall into place; trash collection, movement of goods, movement citizens(traffic), etc.
I really think you made a good point about roads being a significant advancement in New York, or for anywhere for that matter. It is a topic I think that many may overlook but creating roads brings in trade, allows one to expand, and makes daily life more convenient. I would rate this a 7 because although it isn’t a topic i think many people would automatically think of when addressing this subject matter, it no doubt helped in furthering technologies and just the day-to-day lives of New Yorkers.