New-York daily tribune., 1856-04-25
IMPROVEMENT OF ROADS.

T. he Editor e5 The v. TribsHe.
Sir: Locating. making and repairing roads, Ike
any other profession, requires to be learned before
person is qualified 20 undertake such work; therefore
the law directing persons without single qualification
to act as viewers and report on certain proposed lines
Of road OF tie opening or vacating OF Others, Is the
very foundation Of our faulty roads. Such persons
generally make it leading object to take the shortest
distance; they don't avoid natural obstacles but 90
directly over them. plot of the proposed road
slowing the courses and distances, Is required but
rot a word il sad about profile or ongitudlnal
section to exhibit the incubation OF the surface OF Toe
rronoeed grades Of tie contemplated road. which Il
more important than map or pot of the course Ouf
laws troin inclination Of five degrees or ri'e oi
one cot in eey ell and half where practicable e1cep
AZ the crossiT OF streams SC. Now i've degrees i
or.e,er inclination than public road should have ST
sl EXCEPT, possibly, in the most extreme cases An
inclination Of one foot in thirty or nearly Two degree
should be the maximum for fT-t-cass, broken-stone
rC ads ard fifteen, or something over thTee anu
a half degrees for secondary or CROSSROADS
II i directed that tie breadth Of public road s not
70 f1ce.d 50 feet This i wrong The surface bread
Of road may be fIec by law though this even can IN
.- h. 4. ftit. v settled frit -houli depend the
amount OF tiaffC but the width Of land 70 be taken
t n, road vii altogether depend on the nature OF 'he
earth works. a. any can al glance that the
higher the eubslk kmers and the deeper the cuts the
iuTth.r the slopes u them gi run out and the more
ana vii be required this will vary probably At every
lew LuldTed feet hence the ab-urdty II specifying
Uniform width Of snd 70 Be taken, whsn the actual
quantities Of land take from each propeyboder by
q contemplated road wosli be marked down Oh the
Msp.
|; Is somet ne. dir ced that one Of tue viewers be
surveyor; tits : worth nothing: mar being able 20
survey laId i no guaranty Of hi, ability 10 locate
ra6s The law tbs; says: Any reputable, di-
"crcet tizen may be a viewer 20 r-pOr. oa dis-
uued bridge oas- and tie Ike, = about a. sensible
tc ce, jockey testify E. 70 the seaworthiness OF
o r gate.
WITH regard 20 The nsk.r- Of rew roads aud the re-
rarng cf old ones i would be better 20 lave s work
coce Contract; uncor proper direction, ;len by tie
Eiest1i -y,tem. cer.sin l,ngth II ruad ngn be let
cut 4 bt kop; il good ta'e OF repair Tor specified
tn e. tie contractor a. iuEftit cerla.a amour; lie
failed il b, sgTe, e,uiont.
- ,urr pike roads are rot mscscaTniZed al over
their >urfsce, but Only csuseway Of egh'-e feet or
20 along The center, leaving vacant space On eic2
SIDE, which L generally y,ry uneven aad oostruc,~d
~ Is OF u broker .tue t-ey should De compelled -
have ine broken stone csuseEsy on one SIDE ald
hsve the other side kept clear and even, - tia; tie
Iut j. could use 4, SlmneT rOa1 when the Ses'--
- permitted. lis YOU'D be cOuflr 20 The feet oi
t,rs.s going .Gsi V.h hgh; .osd- and the addtion4-
crst Of keeping tie Sumner rosd clear would be re-
Tsij by th. ts>en.d Of he bruken stone part.
Such e few q tie .hngs Needed 70 improve ou
,cuuot roads. E. u. KicHAEr-.
t4o@-e,. ,. Az = 50