The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-07-23
Roads and Voad-makers.

Roads are q great necessity. They
have ever been. From the earliest an
tiquity they have existed. Remains Of
ancient rosds,upon which vast sums we're
expended, yet appear among tho relics Of
departed empires. They we're then in.
tended doubtless, for military purposes,
as to-day, wsr.like governments, or those
which, like governments Of Europe, are
likely to be thrown into a state Of war,
have an eye to these means Of transit. as
will best facilitate the movement of
armies But for other aud for ordinary
Uses they are more important still. Eve
ry one uses them All are interested in
their existence and in keeping them III
good repair. A good road is a great
blessing. 1t is so for all-ior the poor
as well as for the rich, for the feet Of the
peasant as well as for the chariot or the
noble, for the poor mans dray, as for the
royal cortege Of the prince. 1t is a
blessing for every department of life. All
such share its favors, Agriculture de-
mands it, commerce needs it, art employs
it. it aids science, is an auxiliary to So
cial life, religion uses. and medicine and
law improve its facilities.
Roads are to the world-the social
world-what veins and arteries are to the
human body, they facilitate and are a
necessary means to the iulfment Of the
great law of supply and demand. They
carry off waste; they furnish aliment
They relieve accumulations. and they ms.
sist in making them. They afford pleas
ure, and aid industry. They bind to.
gether neighbo:s, and promote society.
Possessing such various powers, and sub
ject to such variety of uses, they ought
to be among the best inst itutions in their
construction and keeping, as they are in
their uses and employment. Good roads
are good things; while bad ones, though
better than none at all, are great griev.
ance. The latter are like lame foot,
which, while it may be better than no
foot, is painful necessity, and makes
him limp who goes upon it, Some roads,
like some persons, are more easily kept
in order than others. Much depends on
the material. About here we may have
the best ones, or We may have the worst
The worst, at some seasons, and under
some circumstances, and the best at other
times, always provided we, as road.mak-
ers, adapt ourselves to the circumstances.
Clay roads mustn't be neglected. They
soon spoil, become rutty and full of holes,
especially during moist weather. Such
roads need to be watched, and mended as
soon as they begin to be defective. Then
a slight outlay will put them to rights
Would that this was the policy about
here. Then would not carriages rattle,
and wear, and break down, as now they
do, to the joy of no one but carriage.
makers. Then could one ride safely in
the dark, as now they cannot; unless they
are very SOBER, or, as the sailors say,
"have got on their sea. legs and have no
fear oil broken axles.
And Why should not our roads be kept
in better order. Let one ride over them.
at least, at some seasons of the year, and
Tor months they will find the identical
hard spots, where it requires good deal
OF good Dature not to utter hard words
They seem like rough, cross sea, whose
pillows, pitching every way, had become
suddenly CONCEALED. At ono time you
will ride on two wheels, TO the right and
then on two to the left ma king an uneasy
hitch on the seat to preserve an equi-
pose,an then you 60 tipping and plung-
ing about like short jolly boat in rough
water. Is there any necessity for this?
Whyshould such rough pieces ofroad re.
main after the frost lie cut and after lain
is over for days and weeks and months
And then, when people mend them. it is
as if they didn't know how, or did not
want to. The earth is put on, or piled or
scraped, stones and all, in the most un.
even manner possible, and the smoothing
or leyeling is left for the rolling wheels
OF endangered travellers. True, we don't
expect that new piece of street terri
tory will be just as smooth as an old and
evenly worn one, We will be reason
able. We don't ask for the impossible,
but we do ask that when piece of road
is made, it should be we'll made. so that
when it settles and is pressed down under
the feet and wheels OF men. horses and
carriages, it shall be tolerably level.
We are glad to perceive that in our
village, the gentlemanly and worthy su.
perintendent of streets, Mr.. Hill, not on.
ly puts the earth on evenly, but takes
pains to rake and pick up the loose stones.
Why not take out Of the road all of the
small stones, which carelessness has left
or the frost has brought to the surface
and which are sore yexation to travel
er and horse, and damage to any vehicle
The old saying is a good one for road
makers, What is worth doing, is worth
doing WE'LL" and, also, that other, "A
thing well done is twice DONE" We dc
not know how far Mr. Hills jurisdiction
extends, but we could wish il might b,
wide one Just nov the New Havel
road needs his, or the like of his service
not to speak of other sections just out o.
the center Of the village. Why should
any one think they have done the publ,
good service. and mended a bad piec,
Of road well, when they have simply
dumped down a cart.lopd Of gravel-stone
of all sizes, from that of a filbert to tina
of q cocoa-nut or larger, give it an in
different dwelling, and left I'll the stone
in the way Of horses feet and carriage
wheels, TO the no small risk of causing
accident, and to provoking even goo'
tempered men into ill.tempered feelings
Let our roads be SO made us to aid in III
cultivation Of christian virtues. and e.
prove not only q material aud social, ba
slss . moral bsRsRL