Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1868-02-07
aarienltllral.
The Valley Harvest Club.

house Of the President Jan. q. Ate
discussing with great unanimity an,
equal satisfaction the merits of an excel
lent dinner, visit was made to the barns
stock-yard, poultry-house and tool-roon
of the premises, all of which showed tn,
advantages of order, neatness and skill.
Having returned to the ample parlor
warmed by an open fire, blazing anc
sparkling and heating, giving these won
derful phenomena of chemical union SO
little admired, because so often seen, the
members received the appointed subject
for the meeting, viz: "Roads," and pro.
ceeded to discuss the same We are per-
mitted to report, provided we do not at
tribute the remarks personally, which
both the modesty of the members and the
plan of our meetings seems to forbid.
The President remarked that as the
thermometer accurately measured the
increments of temperature from the frig-
id cold to the tropic heat, SO the roads of
county, town or region accurately tested
the degree of enlightenment of the in
habitants, from the ignorant savage with
his hunting trail, to the most civilized
and happy communities with their roads
sufficient in number, appropriate in d.
rection, complete in course, and perfect
in construction. Could he but view the
roads, he could correctly divine the
wealth, industry, science and numbers of
the people. As the veins and arteries of
the human system are the channels
through which flows the life element that
builds and renews the whole body, SO
raads are the channels of business, the
outlet of agricultural and mechanical
production and the inlet of all CONNER
cial supply, and such flow, was business,
the life of State. Large villages, GEN.
tres Of business are built up and sustain
ed by roads. They are simply accessible,
places and points whence it is easy to ra-
diate to the rest of the world. If then
our villages desire growth and prosperity,
let them look to their roads, unappreci-
ated blessings.
The President then called upon gen.
tleman who in his past years had owned
and driven stages as well as heavy teams
for goods, to tell us what good road
should be. He said roads should be
made SO we might go quick, safe, and
cheap; thus save our time, save our
bones and save our money. The pulling
and hauling should be little as may be
as such work wears, tears, breaks and
costs. If you can make the roads level;
II not, then as level as you can. If a
road rises one foot in ten then horse in
drawing half a ton up it, will lift lust
one hundred lbs. all the time, besides
pulling much would affsat tho frio
ton or move the load on level, and pull
ling to get the better of what more fric-
ton was, by the hind wheels bearing
more than half the load. Load so a
horse will have full load on level and
he can draw only one quarter of it if the
road rises in 10 about one half if it
rises in "a A horse will pull as much
on a level as five men, but up hill he is
less and less able than five men as it
grows sleeper. A road should be hard
and smooth. If the wheels sunk it was
up hill business. If the wheel hit cob
ble-stone or ledge, sticking their backs
above the surface, there was great loss of
force and dangerous jar. If wheel
fell into a hole it would strike like
sledge hammer and jolt and dig the hole
deeper. Loose sand was discouraging to
the wheels of the wagon and feet of the
horse. A road ought to be straight, if
crooked there was a cramping or sluing,
more cost in making and mending and
more time and laber in going.
A gentleman was now called upon.
who had been Road Commissioner in
the days ere his locks were white.
He said the last remark that n road
must be straight had many exceptions.
A road could not often be straight and
level. He never minded the straight
ness if he by twisting could lay road
level. He would wind around hills. 1t
was no further round the bail of pail
when turned down than when turned up.
If a road was flu. her no matter if level
lie had often found '"the longest wav
round, the shortest way home" In lay
ing roads, stick by the brooks close
enough to hear the water run. Take its
bed sometimes and drive it out. When
he was boy houses were built on hills
to escape the fnoess, and fevers of low
lands and see the Indians at distance.
From house to house people went straight
and on foot. To mill or meeting thew
went often three on horse. Then came
the old style wagon. The heavy skele-
ton OF his fathers wagon was in the barn.
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