Polynesian., 1851-04-05
THE POLYNESIAN.
Editor of the Poiynessan:

EduOT ~ We o1y"c''""'
SIR wish to say something, by the way Of
general advice, to the road commissioners
throughout the Islands would preface my
say, however, by presenting collective
view of our present position, in regard TO
roads. We are all aware of the number and
condition of our roads-few and sparse GER
tainly they are, subserving a great interest
to us. and we are not in the habit OF estima-
tino them at their true value, because they
are not plentier and better. The late legis-
lative enactments have provided largely,
considering our means, for the construction
of roads.-We have 10000 to work, each
IL days in the year, making 100, 600 working
days. The statutes value this labor at
$50 .OOO-if well directed, it is worth
$40 900 to US as nation; if misdIrected,
it is worth nothing or next to nothing. 1t IS,
think the greatest effort we can reasonably
make at present One years labor will 60
but small way, in accomplishing what we
would desire, still it will progress consider
able way in meeting our bare pants. Let US
rest content with this, since We are obliged
to do so. Luxurious roads, now, arc out OF
the neutrality-suspicious. bridges, in our
present state of progress, would appear abso-
| iutely ridiculous. We are poor as poverty,
don't let us forget that, nor that we have
common sense Poverty and common sense
are the only capital we have now to work
upon. -.
shall avoid all technicalities, in these
remarks, for they would be comprehended
by none except those who have no need ol
them.
Caution should be used in selecting the
line of your roads This line of selection
should have reference to the amount OF travel
to the most eligible points of crossing streams
and eulches,* and the greater obstacles III
the line of road
The first object you have to accomplish is
to make the road under your direction barrel.
passable for carriages. Don't think OF doing
ANYTHING else, but direct all your energies tC
this point. Well how is it to be dones Ii
driving along my ox-cart, wish to be abl'
to cross stream or gulch; if find a roat
down the sides of the gulch, and safe bridge
to cross the stream, l shall succeed; but If
instead. | find the clear plain between th'
pulched all nicely and smoothly graded, ant
the work ending at the brow of the gulch, a
n have too often seen, | shall not succeed
cave this latter work entirely alone, it j
labor thrown away, at present roads VII
make themselves over smooth PLAIN. :.
Bridges. as general thing, here, are tn n
first objects of your attention. SPiend'
bridges cost vast deal of labor and money
| the wealth of all these islands would b
, barely able to build one such in year
therefore you have nothing to do with sPlen
did bridges. But we can build many plain
and. comparatively speaking, substanti;
, brid dges, that will answer our purpose tor tn
next ten years, at least. The more
build of them, the more will be the value
each, provided they are in the line OF tn
most travel. :,
Select for your bridges the places IN tn
!, line of travel where the least expense an
1.-THE greatest durability can be attained, ~
use this tangled word because At seems 70 me- We
IV