Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1880-03-30

We commend the following sensible
article on this all important subject to
our road makers and to our farmers
generally.
from the Country Gentleman
The transportation question is one OF
greatest importance to American farm
ers. It is probable however that the
phase of this subject that has been least
discussed by public journals-the max
ing and mending of country roads-ls
quite as important and less understood
than any other. A large proportion OF
American farm products never reach
the railroads. They are consumed Ell
Their on the farm or in the villages and
cities whittier the farmers team and
wagon convey them. Most of these
farmers live SO far from market that one
full day at least is consumed in market
ing load of produce. IF the roads are
uniformly good and level team will
draw two tons of grain more easily than
on ordinary roads they will draw half
that amount. This may seem to some
great difference. but it is because we
have too few really good roads. Too
little attention is paid to grading. In
long stretch of level roads, slight hill
may compel every teamster to put on
much less than he should be able to DO.
In such cases it would be better to
grade the hill, if that be possible, or
90 around it. The measure of value OF
a road is what q team can draw over the
hardest part of it. !,
There is decided increase in the sell
ing value of farms which always have
good and level road to market. l DO no!
believe the importance of having good
roads is appreciated as it should and Will
be, but there is already an understanding
on this subject which makes intelligent
road Improvements profitable. As a
rule, most of the work annually put up
on country highways is wasted. Con-
seriousness of this fact is one reason why
such work Ia generally shirked as far as
possible. Most men will not work at
their road tax as they do on their farms
for themselves. If they could know
that their work on the road was as dl-
rectly for their own benefit as that
which they do Ia every day farm WORK,
this would not be SO. TO have men en-
gage earnestly in road making, 1t must
be shown that their labors are produc-
ing good results. AS it is now, very OF,
ten the harder men work the worse Will
be the roads.
The severe winters and superabundant
rains and SHOWS of our Northern Gil
mate, make the keeping Of roads IN re-
pair extremely difficult. We have al
ready begun to appreciate the lmporI'
lance of Undertaking to keep the roads
in good order. 1t is, on all heavy SOILS
the first thing to be done. In nelghnor'
hoods where farmers underdraln tneli
land, the roads are much better than
where they do not. Very often the
drain crosses the road, and always at
point where it will be of most advan.
tage. With an underdrain three fee'
deep crossing road, and usually de-
preston, it should be easy to keep lone
stretch of road always dry. This is the
place to putin piece of macadam turn
pike-two or three layers of stone light
iy covered with earth and gravel. The
macadam turnpike is really thorough
ly drained road-bed when it is perfect
The reason why it SO often fails is be
cause in many places there is no outie'
to the drain. The water runs under tht
road to some depression, and there lies
until winter frosts have lifted the stones
from their foundation, and left the roac
Quagmire as soon as spring came. II
the macadam road-bed is connected
with an underdrain it will obviate this
trouble and make firm and permanent
road bed.
Piling loose earth and sods in the cen
tire of the road may be somewhat better
than leaving the surface level. But il
the soil is vegetable matter, sods and the
like, the more it is piled up, the worse
the road bed will surely be. Nothing
will do any good except to first remove
surplus water by stone or tile under
drains. When this is done, it is sur
prising how little stone or gravel is
needed. I am glad that road makers
are learning to use more gravel; but in
thousands Of places drawing gravel tc
throw on an undrained turnpike is
nearly waste of labor.
Monroe County, N. Y. w. J. f.