The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-07-26
Ght 5armer.



One Of the greatest drawbacks to the
settlement Of the States of the South by
farmers and Others from the North is the
miserable condition of the roads, which Of
itself is calculated to deter those who
would otherwise be delighted with their
genial climate and easy cultivation Of the
sol, and yet there is sufficient money spent
every year nearly to make permanent
improvement that is now scattered in a
manner that is Of most temporary char
acter. The quantity Of stone to be found
on many farm in most Of the counties
of this state could be gathered and trans
ported to the county roads rs il is now TO
the turnpikes, and the expense would be
but little over that now expended by the
present system, or want Of system. The
suggestions of the Elmira Husbaadman
upon this point are so admirably pat that
we cannot but present them, with our
earnest approval, to the farmers of our
state
A most profitable work for spring is road
making bat il can be deferred to summer
or autumn if necessary, with equally profit
able results, if when done, the work be
done well. 1t Is time now to abandon the
old system of making roads-piling in the
roadway soft earth. Il is silly waste in
any locality where supplies of stone may
be procured Some penny-wisc economist
will say stone roads are too expensive in
construction to allow them TO be made in
farming districts Not so. Dirt roads
are too expensive-not in the making, but
in the use. Where there are farm lands
so much encountered by field stones as to
impede tillage, clearing them of is work
of necessity, aud if they are drawn into
the road to the depth Of foot or more,
there is the double bene6t--improyed land
and good road. Suppose the labor be
all charged 10 the road, It will be balanced
and more by the Improvement. Soft
earth for road mending or road making is
but a poor make-shift. 1t is never good
except in the dry weather Of summer, or
when frozen 10 winter, interminable re
pairs are needed, aud if made with the
same material they are thrown away.
Why not abandon the senseless method in
districts where stones can be had for the
drawing2 In farming district, a good
stone road, well made, win last twenty
years without repairs, and ten to one will
be more seryiceable every day than the or
binary dirt road at its best. But the latter
requires more or less work every year,
amounting in twenty years to twice or
thrice the original cost of u stone road.
The stone road need not cost more than
tW0 dollars a rod il stone can be procured
for the hauling half mile. Then when
the work is done there is an end of il for
many years. Besides, there Is far greater
capacity IN the road that has always d
smooth, hard surface, giving the least pos.
sible obstruction TO passing wheels. The
diminished cost Of transporting Is an i'm
portant item TO consider. Then ia the
muddy seasons there is relief for horses
that suffer terribly by the mud Of dirt
roads What is wanted is good begin
Ming in any neighborhood. Start with
stone, and when they are well beaten down
they will constitute the convincing argu-
nent in favor Of continuing the work.
Road making viii then cease to be a
standing reproaeh to country districts.
When win the start be made