The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1877-03-06
ROAD MAKIya-BY SIDNEY GREEN, oP
PIrTsFoRp.

ROAD MAKISs-BY SIDNEY GREEN, oP
PIrrsroRp.
The personal and real estate OF Hills
dale county, as equalizei by the Board
OF Supervisors at their October session
of 1876, was s6,3s9, ,57s. Allowing one
days work for each 5000 of valuation,
We have IN assessment Of 81 1884 days
work TO be applied TO the public high
ways in the county. An estimate OF
800 10 the township, by direct tar,
would make an additional amount Of
sl4, 900 for the same purpose. Calling
each days work one dollar, we have the
amount OF S45,9 for the improvement
OF our roads in the county annually.
Allowing n road equal TO each section
line, we have ~ miles OF road in q
township, or at that rate, say for Is
townships (including city and villages)
] ,296 miles OF road in the county. Re-
ducing this to acres, we have l0,36S
acres, valued, say, at 35 dollars per
acre, making total OF 1862, $50. This
amount we may consider as perma-
nently invested in roads for the county
or in other words, real estate owners
surrender that amount 10 the public
for highway purposes. As we are
farmers, and have our real estate on
our hands, and have our personal prop
erty for the improvement OF our real
estate, IL matters not whether il be on
our farms or on the highways, the
principle is the same. The question
arises, now shall We apply our person
al resources TO our real estate to the
best advsntageT This, / believe,
brings me to the subject OF 'Road-ma-
king, upon which this Institute has
rather informally asked me to give my
views.
OF course what have to say will ap-
ply more to our partially improved
roads than to the opening Of new ones.
Practically, in my opinion, nearly one
half OF our tax, as 10 is applied, is
thrown away, or rather committed, and
not applied at all. venture the asser.
ton that there is not a farmer here
that would be willing 10 accept fifty
per cent Of the time counted on the
road, as he would hire and apply to
his farm. In making roads the same
principle ought TO be observed in the
use OF means as in any other business.
The idea and practice OF counting the
use OF plow or scraper a day on the
road and equal with man or a team,
is SO unequal aud unfair il ought TO be
discontinued at once. I would apply
all the means that belong 10 the high
way faithfully. Roads should be made
as straight fs location will permit.
In preparing a road-bed the main OBJ
jsct should be permahsnce. All moder.
ately level ground can be raised by the
pillow by striking a furrow exactly in
the center Of the road, and by continu.
ous backfurrowing q very respectable
turnpike can be formed at very little
expense. Water courses should be
formed on each side Of the road bed,
SO there shall be no standing water in
che bitches. IL Is important that the
surface water be confined in the bitches
10 the natural ravincs or wster-courses
thus avoiding useless aud unnecessary
sluices. The grading down the high
place 10 form a continuous water-course
in tho bitches after the pIowed turn
pike is formed, is often attended with
considerable expense. The plow and
scfapcr and perseverance, work won.
ders on such places in short time,
which the road master looks upon with
satisfaction. Tile may be used IN sust