The Red Cloud chief., 1880-04-22
Common Roads.

Xht<ikE IL SILL 1ut Couipt1itt IA itu
portions of the country about the roads.
and this condition Of things may be
looked for periodically until a system Of
road-making is inaugurated differing
materially from that which prevails now
in nearly all of the Northwestern States.
Although the Eruirie Farmer has so
often discussed this subject and advo-
Gated the adoption Of measures intended
TO bring about n better state Of things.
we are impelled 20 return to it again
and again BY reason Of its importance
to the people. We have emphasized
the necessity for good roads in all parts
Of the country. showing their value to
the public and to individual property.
We have pointed out the fGct that most
of the work annually done upon the
public highways is Of little account and
in manv instances worse than useless.
1t is plain that the value Of good roads
is not properly appreciated. 1t is only
when q mud embargo occurs that our
people are aroused to the benefits Of
good roads at all times. When the vi
cissitudes Of q capricious winter are
over, and the highways become passa-
BILE, very little is heard about the roads
until another season Of rain or snow,
| and freezing and thawing has rendered
them well nigh or entirely impossible.
One of our correspondents suggested,
in the last issue of the Prairie Farmer.
that the Inconvenience and losses sus-
tanned by the country on account of bad
roads are well understood, but that
| those who refer TO them fail to point
out q remedy. Now there are localities
where this criticism will apply with
great force; but on the other hand there
| are many others in this and other States
where it has no force at all. There are
many sections where gravel and beaten
rock may be utilized to improve the
roads with comparatively light expense.
In such instances it is merely . question
! of public interest in the matter. In
numerous localities the light cost Of
good roads is shown by the construc-
ton of toll roads, which almost without
exception prove a good investment to
those who build them. The statement
is q safe one that farmers who use these
thoroughfares pay in tolls much more
than would be required in taxes TO keep
up good roads free of tolls, and at the
same time, in most cases. they have &c
pay highway takes also.
In other localities these natural
means Of securing cool roads are not
at hand, and . different course must
necessarily be pursued. If good roads,
or those that are reasonably good, are
to be had. To keep the highways in
anything like good order under such
unfavorable circumstances, underdrain-
ing is absolutely necessary. On al
/ heavy soils, this is the first thing to be
done. With underdrains three or four
feet deep. and an outlet for the drain.
q vastly improved condition Of the road
will be secured. Piling loose earth
and sod in the center of q highway, is
little better than leaving the road lev
ell; and. indeed, if the soil is vegeta-
BILE matter the higher it is piled up.
the worse the roads will become. The
proper plan to pursue under such cir
cumstances is to remove the surplus
water by stone or tile underdrains.
and then If gravel, or broken rock can
be obtained, 3 good road is easily
made.
Whether or not good country roads
will be constructed TO any great extent.
under present highway laws. Is .
question which we do not at this time
intend to discuss. We have said here
tofore. thst under our present system
very few good roads are to be found at
all seasons of the year. If the laws on
the statute book were executed accord
ing to their intent and purpose, there
would be far less room for complaint
than now exists, but il is patent that
such is not the case. The facts speak
for themselves; bad roads in bad wealth
er are the rule; good roads at al times
are few and far between. IL relief or
reform in road-making is to be secured,
it may be that II will only be secured
by the enactment Of laws which viii be
3 radical innovation upon those thst are
now on the statute books relating to IL
1t Is asserted that as matters now stand,
road taxes are Increasing, and q the
same time our country roads are get
ting worse every year. II this be 50, il
IS high time that better methods were
adopted, and it has been suggested that
al highway taxes be paid in money to
be expended under . system by which
the roads win be in charge a and ksps
in order by experts in road-naking-
Past experience In this, and other West
ern States under the present hNs.
shows that something more IS required
before Ne shall have 6 III times q tie
year good pubhc Appropriateness
Iris noecaahle facs thas los a peo
ple de IN March, and soas foIkx
therefore eonsider the Doath . curse.
but Il should b regarded - b1snsln&,
1nr the world eeug % mean during
March that Il mnke. fplks recoocSlsa G
dyi1gat thae eeosuo-Resepa Iea