Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1869-07-16

RoADs ANn ROAn.MAKING.


We accept poor. roads as one Of the Ia
eyitahle evils Of life, and even cali some of
them good, or excellent, in comparison with
those vastly poorer. The people of one town
brag Of roads that cost chem three or four
times what much better ones ought to cost,
aud are highly satisfied with their own, and
the high road tax, too, when they 60 outside
their town limits and see how much worse
of other people are. We're We governed by
Louis Napoleon, Emperor, we would have
excellent roads, for he would know very well
that every dollar lost in the wear and tear Of
wagons and horse flesh upon poor highways
leaves lust so much the less for him to draw
from the people by taxation. He would know
thar It costs vastly more to keep roads in
passable, or poor condition, than in 6rstrate
order, having reference only to the outlay Of
money and labor upon the roads. Why is 1t
that ace cannot learn the same facts Why
can we not see oar own interests, every mans
interests, as we'll as the head Of a monarchical
form of government can see his? The system
ofworking the roads from one end of the land
10 the other, SO far as we are acquainted is
the most absurd that could be cOntrived. The
township or the county officers set apart Ger.
tain sums Of money 10 be used for keeping
the roads in order in certain districts, to each
its allotment. This money IS to be appor-
toned among the tax payers, and either
''worked out at a low rate Of wages per day,
or collected in money with other taxes, at the
option Of the tax payer. The road tax is
usually worked cut. The road master, or
whatever else his title may be, is resident
ofthe district. and viii rather follow the Gus
tomary loose way Of doing business, than see
60 il that bis work is done in the best way,
and with the least expenditure. He wi!l ac-
cept for day work the labor Of mere boys,
or Of cid men. and Will have some days not a
single ablebodied man on his whole force,
except himself aud his hired man. The re-
sultis, where ten days works are "w0rbed
out, three or four are done.
Besides, when spring work is pressing, or
having and harvesting absorb all the labor Of
the community, no road master will do 50 un-
popular thing as to warn out his neighbors
TO work the roads. His own farm work
presses besides. So be delays until autumn,
after doing few days work in The early
spring. The roads are plowed up; gravel and
clay are seraped into the middle, "hog backs ?
are made to keep the water from running
and washing in the middle of the road:-then
comes frost, and all the new work remains
soft and uas ettled all the winter and spring,
except when frozen solid. All this is easily
obviated, and we may just as well have good
roads as poor ones. Almost every township
has a good young engineer and surveyor Ap
point him road master for the town, give him.
fair salary, one or two yokes Of oxen, one
or two pairs Of horses, with carts, wagons,
plows, scrapers, and small tools 10 match.
Let him have money enough to hire eight or
ten good men in summer, and perhaps four
in winter. he should understand that his
business IS to study road making, read upon
the subject, learn where the best materials
are, break out Of old ruts, and as soon as pos
sible give the people good roads all over the
township. There would ofcourse be first, sec.
ond, and third class roads, according 10 their
importance, and the amount of travel upon
them.
Similar systems to the one suggested are
pursued in many townships, and the result is
envariably a great improvement in the roads,
and after little while, even at first, in some
cases, a decided decrease in the cost We
know of some towns in which the road hands
are not employed more than half their time,
although they cut and prepare timber, make
bridges, and do much extra work. Their
services are, however, constantly in demand,
and by digging cellars, moving buildings,
laying cellar walls for houses, etc, making
side walks in the village, putting do~n ce-
ment walks and floors on private grounds.
and in many other ways. they earn enough to
pay large part Of the ex -enses of men aud
teams. The road-master iuspeets all the
roads once a month, especially after storms,
and needed repairs if promptly made, are
slight and efficient -American .fgrjcaltuid.