The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-08-28
For The Agis g. Mtelligencer.
To the Road Comm fsstOssers and
Citizens or Hartford County,.

wish to OFFER by way of making suggestions of
the possibility Of some Improvement in regard to mend
ing roads, with intention of rejecting upon any, be-
leying that there those who annually employed
TO mend roads, who honestly believe that they doing
their duty. Having said this much will now as briefly
the ability to forth my views the subject
In the first place, what We need is good, improved
roads at least Then to that end efforts ought to be
directed. Now, what wish to propose is thsthat the
funds beapplied at first to the worst portions of the road
every division in making them good and permanent.
For instance there low piece in the road where the
water lays long, and tho wagons are cutting The road
deeper and deeper every time they pass over Now to
remedyng this there shouldbe acuvert stone If con-
yenient if not tree two will answerand suppose
most farmers would gladly give them to have good road
stope Is used dig space sufficiently wide to admit Of
rough stones being placed up the sides LAS 1t is not al
ways practicable to get smooth stones in every ocayD
leaving sufficient width to allow all the water that gath
ers on the road to pass through it, being careful not to
dig quite low the ground the water flows over after
passing Of the cuvert 1t is impossible to tho
size the flow Of water will vary in almost every local
ity but make il large enough and with stones and
earth Be sure thereis plenty of the latter and raise
the road in the CENTRE that the water flow direct
y the drains also lay stones in the bottom resting
against the side stones to support them In their places
and to keep the water from washing out the bottom of
the culyert.
Now this is what want particularly to call the at
tention of supervisors and all concerned in mending
roads, to make any attempt to better the roads
without raising the middle of the road sufficiently high
that the water will naturally run to the diains which,
II observed roads will necessarily dry much than
If the water Is allowed to run in the centre Of
the road or in the wagon ruts thereby causing the road
to be often sloppy and muddy 1tmay be argued that this
cannot all be done in To which agree but
as before remarked spend the amount levied on the
worst part of the roads the first season. and If properly
DONE It will require but little for years for we have
made the element of water means OF repairing or re-
moving of the distractions that may gather in the
drainsdrt and leaves which removed by the force
Of the water all being thrown into the drains in time Of
heavy rains. really think thai often might bring
the elements in to our aid if would sufficiently reflect
By continuing this plan till roads would all be gone
1t must appear clear to every mind that our roads
will be permanently improved, and Will not In the fu-
ture require so much labor to keep them up.
l. There Is another view presented to my mind in regard
to the width Of the roads We see In some places roads
thirty feet wide and others not over ten
Now does to me to be very clear to have twenty
feet between the drains would accommodate al 1.-The tay
ell on our roads Perhaps in localities less would
better but there ought to be room enough for
wagons to pass each other , but think twenty feet
to be wide enough all the travel and the expense
little half what would cost to keep thirty feet in
the good order that is to have the water to flow to
the dras in straight line from the centre of the road
having the charge Of portion Of road to go the
whole of 1t Gas they thought and honestly too, doubt
not to show impartality3 throw little dirt into
mud hole just whore the wagon wheel will through
and bring the fresh dirt the road again. sometimes
where there is hut track, and the dirt has washed
out the middle Of the road is filled up to evelwith loose
| dirt.
The first rain, II not heavy enough to carry all the
ooe earth away sauraes II with water that 1t easy
to conceive how much the road Is improved andsome
subsequent rain the whole Of the socaed repairs
In perhaps iesdays or month at least. Again, they
pass down drain with the plow throwing the dirt t
to the road thereby shutting the water in the limits
the road somewhat on the plan Of canal Perhaps tb
cleaning Of the drains in this way is done without any
charge the county ont OF the interest they have,
some other laudable impulse of the performer.
Now, really, does present system of menling road
(so-caed) much better than throwing the money
! awayl mean far the community Of travel is con
cerned have many as twelve breaks on shor
piece of roadf making the travel difficult and imp
Breaks only necessary long hills where the wate
down the wagon ruts and thereby makes consider
able wash gully in the road To avoid This let thes
breaks be in this shape A, the joint always up the hill
nevet allowing the water to pas from drain to tn othe
the road but II absolutely necessary. account
rocks for other cause, make culvert Ms befor
| described NJ