Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1869-08-04


we accept poor ronds A. one Of tho
inevitable evils Of llfc, and even call
some of them good, or excellent In
comparison with those vnstl, poorer
The people Of one town brae oi roads
that cost them three or four tlmos
wha. much better ones ought 10 cost,
ana are highly satisfied with their
own, ard the high road tax. too. when
they 90 outside their town limits and
500 how much worse OF other people
are. Were we governed bv LAM,
Napoleon, Emperor, we would have
excellent roads, for he would know
very well that every dollar lost in tho
wear and tear Of wagons and horse
fiesh upon poor highways, leaves lust
so much tho less for him TO draw from
the people by taxation He would
know that il costs vastly more TO keep
roads In passable, or poor condition,
than IN hrst-rate order, having refer
ence only to the outlay Of money and
labor upon the roads. Why is il that
zoe cannot learn the same fhctsg Why
can we not see our own interests, every
mans interests. as well as the head Of
monarchical form of government can
see his The system of working the
rocds from one end OF the land 10 the
other, 60 far as we are acquainted IN
the most absurd that could be con-
trivcd. Tho township or the county
otncers set apart ocrtain sums Of mon
ey to be used for keeping the roads in
order in certain districts, 10 each its
allotment This money is to - appor-
uoned among the taxpayers, snd
either worked out" at a low rate OF
wages per day, Or collected in money
WIN other taxes, at the option Of the
taxpayer. The road tax is ususily
worked out. The road.mastar "a
whatever else his title NAV be. ia
resident Of the district, and will rather
follow the customary loose wav of
dolng business, than see to il that his
work is done in the best way, and with
the least expenditure. He will accent
for days work the labor of mere
boys, or of old men, and will have
some days not a single able-bodied
man on his whole force, except himself
and his hired man. The result is,
where ten days works are "worked
Out" three or four are done.
Besides, when spring work h press.
ing, or haying and harvesting absorb
all the labor of the community. no
road-master will do so unpopular a
thing as to warn out his neighbors TO
work the roads. His own farm work
presses besides. So he DELAYS until
autumn, after doing few days work
ID the early spring. The roads are
plowed up; gravel and clay are scraped
INTO the middle, "hog backs" are made.
10 keep the water from running and
washing in the middle of the road -
then comes frost, and all the new work
remains soft and unsettled all the win
Ter and spring, except when frozen
'olld. All this is easily obviated. and
we may just as well have good roads
rs poor ones. Almost every township
has good young engineer and sur,
Ieyor. Appoint him road master for
he town, give him a fair salary, one
'r Two yokes of oxen, one or two pairs
'f horses, with carts, wagons, piows.
lerapers, and small tools to match
let him have money enough to hire
'ight or ten good men 10 summer, and
perhaps four in winter. He should
understand that bis business is 10
tudy road making, read upon the sub,
ect, learn whore the best materials
IRE, break out Of old ruts, and as soon
IS possible give the people good roads
" over the township. There would
i course be first, second, and third
lass roads, according 10 their import
nee, and the amount Of travel upon
hem.
Similar systems TO the one suggest.
d are pursued in many townsbips
nd the result is invariably a great
Improvement in the roads, and after a
title while, even at first, in some
ases, a decided decrease in the cost
We know of some towns in which the
Dad hands are not employed moro
han half their time, although they cut
nd prepare timber, make bridges, and
o much extra work. Their services
re, however, constantly in demand,
nd by digging cellers, moving build,
lgs, laying oeller walls for houses.
tc., making sidewalks In the village.
utting down cement walks and floors
n private grounds, and in many other
'ays' they earn enough TO pay large
ART OF the expenses Of men and teams.
he road-master inspects all the roads
nee month, especially after storms,
nd needed repairs, If promptly made,
re slight aud efficient American
gricutturist.