Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-07-21
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
Common Roads.

1t is characteristic Of the American peo-
pie to delight in grand achievements while
they are almost wholly indifferent to minor
affairs. The old adagc. "Strain at gnat
and swallow camel, does not apply to
them on the contrary they can swallow cam
els without difficulty, but have no appetite for
gnats. Railroads and canals are subjects Of
popular discussion, but common are roads sell
dom mentioned. Our people boast that they
can go fifty to sixty miles an hour on their
railroads, at any season Of the year, while at
some seasons they cannot go four miles an
hour on their common roads. The American
engineer finds it beneath his dignity to work
at country road. The typical farmer can
sit at his dinner table and expatiate upon
the political issues Of the hour until all the
dishes jingle, but common roads constitute
too small theme for him.
But it may be asked, what is there in
roads deserving Of special attention what
have they done for civilization and how
can they conduce to the present or to the
future prosperity of this country? Through.
out all time roads have been among the most
influential agencies Of society, and their
makers the prime movers Of civilization.
They are literally the pathways Of common
and Of social intercourse. The lost accu.
rate criterion, by which, on entering strange
country person can, at glance, pass au
intelligent and correct judgment upon its
social development and business prosperity,
is its roads. They are the true index Of ad.
vance in civilization. AS building is de.
pendent for its strength upon the solidity Of
its foundation, so the prosperity of a country
depends In great measure upon the thor
oughness Of its road system. 1t was good
roads as much as any other one cause which
lifted England from the sluggish torpor in
which she rested less than century ago, and
gave her the high place in the ranks of civil
zation which she now holds. They also lifted
Scotland from the degradation which followed
the fall Of the Old Churchmon to her present
honorable position. Sufficient proof OF tn c
prosperity and political sagacity of Ancient
Rome, is found in the existing remains Of
her strong well.built roads.
Probably in no other respect are the
United States so much behind the European
countries as in their common roads and road
systems. The systems are, as yet, crude and
undeveloped. The road taxes are too light
and the method Of working them out instead
OF paying them is bad, as it puts unskilled
and incompetent men where skilled laborers
are much needed. Also, instead of appoint
ing pathmastcr who knows anything of the
construction of roads or of directing G com.
pany Of workmen, and keeping him in office,
a man is annually elected, at random, to
take charge of the roads, and as he generally
employs some different principle (if any
principle at ally from that Of his predecessor,
the roads become a grand medley Of the
methods Of score Of pathmasters. OF the
roads themselves little needs to be said, as, to
our sorrow, most of us arc too thoroughly
acquainted with them. We can appreciate
the pleasures TO both man and beast Of
dragging through an adhesive mortar or Of