The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-03-20
Country Road Making.

The transportation question is one Of
the greatest importance to American farm
ers. 1t is probable, however, that the
phase Of this subject that has been least
discussed by public journals-the making
and mending Of country roads--is quite as
important and less understood than any
other. A large proportion Of American
farm products never reach the railroads,
They are consumed on the farm or in the
villages and cities whittier the farmer 5
team and wagon convey them. Most OF
these farmers live SO far from market that
one full day at least is consumed in mar
keting load Of produce. If the roads
are uniformly good and level team viii
draw two tons Of grain more easily than
on ordinary roads they will draw half that
amount This may seem to some too great
difference, but it is because We have toe
few really good roads. Too little attention
is paid to grading. In long stretch of
level roads, a slight bill may compel every
teamster to put on much less than he
should be able to do Iu such case il
would be better to grade the hill, il that
be possible, or 90 around it. The measure
Of value Of road is what team can draw
over the hardest par: of il.
There is decided Increase 10 the sell
ing value Of farms which always have a
good and level road to market. | do not
believe the importance Of having good
roads is appreciated as it should aud will
be, but there is already m understanding
on this subject which makes intelligent
road Improvement profitable As rule
most of the work annually put upon eoun-
try highways is wasted. Consciousness Of
this fact is one reason why such work is
generally shirked as far as possible. Most
men will not work at their road tax as
they do on their farms for themselves II
they could know that their work on the
road was as directly for their own benefit
rs that which they do in every day farm
work, this would not be So To have men
engage earnestly IN road making, it must
be shown that their labors are producing
good results. As il is now, very often the
harder men work the worse will be the
roads.
The severe winters aud superabundant
rains and SHOWS Of our northern climate
make the keeping of roads in repair ex'
tremely difficult. We have hardly begun
to appreciate the Importance Of under
draining to keep roads in good order. II
is, on all heavy soils, the first thing to be
done In neighborhoods where farmers
underdrain their land, the roads are much
better than where they do not, Very
often the drain crosses the road, and al.
ways at point where it viii be of mosi
advantage With an underdrain three
feet deep crossing road, aud usually in q
depression, it should be easy to keep a
long stretch Of road always dry. This j;
the place to put in a piece Of maeadan
turnpike--two or three layers Of stone
lightly covered with earth and gravel
/ The macadam turnpike is really thor
oughly drained roadbed when it is perfect
The reason why it SO often fails is because
in many places there is no outlet to tn,
: drain. The water runs under the road t
some depression, aud there lies until winteI
frosts have lifted the stones from thei
!. foundation and left the road a quagmiru
as soon as the spring came. If the mac
! adam road-bed is connected with an un
6 derdrain it win obviate this trouble an,
make Arm and permanent road-bed.
!, Piling loose earth aud sods in the centr
Of the road may be somewhat better thai
{ leaving the surface level. But if the sol
is vegetable matter, sods and the like, th
, more it is piled up, the worse the road be,
2 will surely be. Nothing will do any gooC
except TO first remove surplus water b
: stone or tile underdrnins. When this
done, it is surprising how little stone 0
gravel Is needed. | am glad that road
| makers are learning TO use more gravel
but ia thousands Of places drawing grave
! to throw on an underlined turnpike
j nearly waste Of labor Country Gentle
! man.