Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1867-12-26


Tho subject Of good roads is one 10
which we all have an interest, and
vhich II becomes us TO give mach
moro attention than is our custom
The valuo of good roads to any com
mniiity cannot be over estimated,
and the way in which they are
neglected by those in charge OF them
among us is absolutely criminal. That
from sixteen TO. twenty thousand dol
lars should be annually expended for
repairs on the roads in this county,
with the resultsapparent, ,argucseither
wilful neglect Of high public duty
on the part Of public servants, or Il
radical defect in the system Of road
management, or both. Certain it is
that the benefit is entirely dispropor-
tionate TO the expenditure, and ccono-
my, as well as public convenience,
demands change. What may be the
proper course, or what changes could
be effected TO lessen the expense, or
10 secure Il result that would justify
il, is u subject that calls for careful
consideration Macadamizcd roads
may not be feasible in all parts of the
county, but where they are, economy
would justify their formation. Where
they are not, something certainly can
be done to make the roads something
else than huge pit for the embrace
Of wheels, the strainihg Of horses, and
the burial Of public money. By the
present system Of road supervision
and repair, the public highways are
nothing else. All through the winter
and spring, such is their condition
that the old rate of progress in Eng
land is locomotive speed compared
with our journeyings, and during the
summer and fall, ruts and breaks are
the constant welcome of the traveller,
from which he may be thankful 10
escape with horse and carriage un.
harmed. He may travel for days, and
see no evidence that tho supervisor
has ever discovered a need for his
services, or if he do, he will only
recognize il in the suddenness with
which his team will be brought to Q
stand still by the vain effort Of hi:
horse to plough through some foot OF
two of loose earth, piled up without
Judgment or system. The supervisor
is paid by the day, without regard tC
the value of his labor, aud n part Of 9
day counts as day Therefore, tn,
poorer his work, the oftener it viii
require repair, and the greater mum
Der of days he can demand pay for
The efficacy of bis work, or the gudn
tum meruit il involves, is not for mo
mont considered. Besides this, ht
generally "has bis own work to do,
, iaet a. tho time svhen tha r,ads should
be repaired, and, consequently, tn,
roads are not repaired. When th,
rainy season prevails and farm worL
is dull, then he ''puts i'm his time OF
the road, and counts his days w0rl,
/ for which the county must pay. Bu
that rainy season is just the time wher
work on the roads is worse than use
less, and well the supervisor knows it
But, what cares he? Does rot th,
present system make it his interes
not TO care Aud is not the county
treasury virtually plundered by th,
fact that he doesn't care? In short
is il not evident that in this system o
road making and mending there il
something rotten?
Many plans have been suggested fot
the improvement of the system, sucl
as awarding sections to the highes
bidder and requiring him to keep then
in order-making each land holde
keep in repair the roads that bind hi
land--paying for the work accordin.
to its value and not according to th
time "put in"-making il the specia
duty Of the supervisor to be on th
alert and repair every breach as sooi
us it appears-and others of create
or less feasibility. Doubtless man,
other and better suggestions nigh
be made, and out of the multiple,
wisdom of the practical public, sys
tenn be perfected that would seour
the end aimed at. 1t is in hope o
something like this that public atten
tion is again called TO this subject
Cecil Democrat.