Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-09-16
Our Public Ways.

munication from an intelligent observer who
has sojourned for a few days in this city and
vicinity, may not be altogether fair and cor
rect, and perhaps his examination of the pub
lie ways may have been altogether too criti-
cal for person who confesses that he knows
nothing about the art of road making, but it
contains hints that our city officials would do
well to ponder. We know of but one man in
the State who has made the art of road max
ing subject of systematic and thorough
study. Generally the making of our roads
has been intrusted to those who have no well
digested method, and who do the business hap
hazard. We are almost ashamed to confess
that our readers will find good deal of truth
in the statements of our correspondent
To the Editor of the Journal:
am visitor to your city, and have been
charmed by the natural beauties of Augusta.
From its magnificent hills one may obtain such
views of city and country scenery as very few
places in America can boast. The fathers of
Augusta were wise in providing their descend
ants with noble shade trees. With your COM
handing position on both sides of the Kenne-
bee, Augusta ought to be favorite place of
summer resort, simply because there is so
much natural and artificial beauty. l am
greatly surprised therefore to observe how
neglected. the city authorities are of the means
within their reach for improving the public
ways. Nealy every artificial addition to the
beauty of Augusta bears the marks of age.
notice very few young trees on your new
streets, such as must have been set out when
the now old streets were first opened. If
were to except the new sidewalks, which are
excellent, l should say that in all other re-
spects the streets of Augusta were rapidly
deteriorating, though cannot say how bad
they once were.
Will you permit me to say that the art of
road making seems never to have penetrated
into Kennebec county, so far as have been
able to discover in few miles through some
of your cities and towns? 1t is not a subject
which have studied at all, but know that
it is necessary for good road, that there
should be proper material and a proper form
the latter being by far the most essential. In
Massachusetts, there are miles upon miles of
excellent roads that are made with no other
material than that which forms the ordinary
basis of your streets, and there are examples
enough of paved streets that are execrable.
Here you have everything ready to your
hands. In every hill you have millions of
tons of stone capable of making the very
best of road at the cost of hauling, and yet
you have not street in Augusta that would
be tolerated week in the most remote town
of Essex county, Massachusetts. The system
seems to be to fill up the holes with sand or
the poorest kind of gravel to make mud in
wet weather and dust in dry. The clouds of
dust cover the white paint on most of your
houses, and render applicable the tint adopted
for most of the more recently erected dwell
ings.
need not enlarge upon the badness of the
streets. Every citizen who has had occasion
to drive in other parts of the country where
this important matter is carefully attended
to, knows how bad they are. Let me beg
leave to suggest some classes Of people who
have special interest in an improvement
Every man who owns a house painted
white, would save one coat of paint every
five years, by being free from dust. Every
owner of horse and team would save much
of the wear and tear of both horses and car
riages, if the roads were smooth and free
from mud. Every merchant who depends to
any extent on country trade, would find that
good roads would make the visits of his remote
customers more frequent. 1t cannot be nee :
essary to remind this community that good