The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1880-08-06
Country Road Making.

The transportation question is one ofgreat-
est importance to American farmers. 1t is
probable, however, that the phase ofthis SUBJ
ject that has been least discussed by public
iournals-the making and mending ofcOuntry
roads-is quite as important and less under
stood 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 farm
ers team and wagon convey them. Most of
these farmers live so far from market that one
full day at least is consumed in marketing a
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 too great o difference, but it is be-
cause 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 case it would
be better to grade the hill, if that be possible
or 90 around it. The measure of value of
road is what team can draw over the hard.
est part of it,
There is decided increase in the selling
value of farms which always have good
and level road to market | do not believe
the importance of having good roads is APP
preciated as it should and will be, but there
is already an understanding on this subject
which makes intelligent road improvements
profitable. AS rule, most of the work an
nualv put upon country highways is wasted
Consciousness of this fact is one reason why
such work is generally sbirkcd as far as
possible. Most men will not work at their
road tax "a tbey do on their farms for them
selves. Ifthey could know that their work on
the road was us directly for their own benefit
as 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 and superabundant rains
and snow of our northern climate, make the
keeping of roads in repair extremely difficult.
We have hardly begun to appreciate the i'm
portance of understanding to keen roads in
good order. 1t is, on all heavy soils the first
thing to be done In neghborboods where
farmers underdrain their land, the roads are
much better than where they do not. Very
often the drain crosses the road, and always
at point where IL VIII DC OF most advantage.
WIN an unuerdTall ehree ieet 9eep crossing
road ana usually III aepTessioh' IL shouiu
DC easy TO keepa long stretch Oh ROAD Always
ary. ms Is the pace 10 pu. III u piece ot
llacauahi turnplke,'Wo or thTee layers VI
stone iighIiy covered WIN eaIth anu gravel
Inc macadam turnpike is reaiiy thoroughly
drained Ioaooeo Wnen Is periect. Inc
REASON why 80 oiteI iaiis ID because Ill many my
places there is no outlet 10 the uram; Inc
water runs uhder the ROAD 10 some uepres-
SION, ana there hes until winter iIos.s nave
iliied the stones from lheir lounuatlon anu
leit the ROAD quagmlre as soon as tle spring
came. Ii tne nacaaam roaa-Dea Is conhectea
with an underurain IL VIII opVlate tnis trouble
ana make nrm ana permanent roaa-pea.
:, fllng loose earth ana soas IN thec entre Oh
!ne roao may DC sohew p, pet.er Inan leap-
ing the surface leVel. buG II tne sou Is Vege-
tapie matter, Sous anu lne liRe, tne mort II Is
plied up, the worse inc roau-oeo WIN surrey
nc. Nothlng VIII 10 any goou keep. 70
nrst remove surplus wa.er ny s!one VI .ile
underdrains; When TINS Is uohe, luis surpris1