The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1883-12-20
COUNTY ROADS.
A Few Practical Hints on Their COn+
structien.
Slight Variations Suggested for Diff
ferept Distances.
An Important Consideration Of 1t.

DALLAS, Dec. 1S-[Editor HKRAL D. l-Th
road question is an important one, and the
people of the city and county are alike in.
terested in it, And as l am somewhat
acquair ted with the different localities, the
condition Of the present roads and the
demands for better class of highways, per-
haps it may not be amiss for me to speak.
There has something been said of system
of roads. That is very well, If the system
is based upon the necessary intelligence
and proper practical views. l may not
possess the intelligence or entertain the
proper practical views; but may be able
to throw out few hints that practical in
tellieent men may pick up and utilize in
disposing Of this interesting matter In
the first place, then, roads al made main
Iy for the people who reside In the country
10 travel upon TO and from the city
with ONLY q few slight variations. This be-
ing undt rstood, the fact that the people in
the country reside promiscuouslv all over
the county aud not along the line of he
HIGHWAYS as they do on the streets IN the
CITY, must be considered together with the
question how and where they reach the
main road. For il the travel that is done
were done to the limits OF the county IL
would involve the expense OF binding
HIGH. drv, solid road to that extent, but
such is not the fact and no such expense is
necessary. On most OF the roads there IS
flree to five times more travel on the first
four to six miles from the city than on the
ext four to Elk, and as the distance from
he civ increases there is less travel and
,Fconrse less wear of the road. 1t is the
3se Of the road. the amount OF travel on
a that wears it out and zee
lies demand Tor such sub
stantial work as Will stang. IT,, bus 70 enter ha,
Ter understood, 1 may say; Start a road
asst from Dallas and another northeast,
nd they would uiverge so as to be three or
four miles apart at White Rock creek and
wider. OF course, beyond that. The people
-qsdipg between those two roads and south
~ the former, will find means to reach one
or the other as their own convenience and
h-.wavs will admit of, and they will come
ITO IL AT different points. And those resid.
In q beyond the west four miles will come
IN in the fame way, some awaiting them
5eives OF the by.ways OF those residing
carer the city, and so Cd, as the roads be-
@ome more distant from each other and 10
he linit Of the county; but the whole
tylyel from the county line finally falls IN
nm that portion Of The road between
White Rock and the city, which
N its present condition Is Who'll
Isl unfit to bear the travel ana IN rainy
seB son becomes impassible.
IN estimating the cost of material and la
bnr 10 make those roads the form OF the
AM rface o. the ground aud the Character OF
me soil must hr considered; An east ROAD
,silI mass below the foot OF the hils, VIII be
on leye, land most OF the way .ublect 10
b,,ome very vet ana is OF that character Of
ii thaL becomes very mnshy to depth
.b,, would put n stop TO all travel, ana yet
tlf. road would accommodate the peopie
of very large section OF the country. Be
yond White Rock bottom the form OF the
surfaee Is different the coil Is dlnerent, ana
iravel in not confined so much TO o single
t,sck The northeast road will be on a
better form of surface and better soil, but
fhe amount of travel on II Tor Tour TO six
r,ties from this city will demand a width
and strength that no unimproved road In
the county has:
.;fnated is wrong on several
counts: Ist-It runs along the railroad,
,vhlch is not pleasant or safe for travel with
tcsrns where women, children and wild an.
- are 10 Re driven. 2d-Railroads are
csnerally made on the lowest and levelest
and and 3d-It involves the necessity
60 ma v roads. The Mckinney and
IAN road should lie the lame for, at
is.-f tour 10 SIX miles east, thepce In a d.
Io.t inc TO the places or proper point 90
he tosds. would not materially increase
ne distance TO either place. and put the
Mckinney road on mucn oeuer grouna,
7-hir then, would be three great roads 70
10 ciry on the east side Of the river.
il,,,.svine Is a distinct section, situate be-
80, IT, Elm and West fol ks. and should
~ divided with q bridge and hrst-clsss
I'D across the West FORK and bottom.
~ re first high ground IRON tne Dsnas
bridrs a right hand rosd across the sand
-is-s near The Brovder place 70
4 ,-oosr pOint on the West fork, tor some
F.rfs1ce Would he good, and even the West
80 bottom on this eide Of the river II OF
dias -snt soil from that east Of Dsliss sno
rood road could be made on II mucn cnesp-
iury Of patient practical men
sL,,-ia ssosY,sin tbe best locslliy for the |
- IN ire other side Of the West fork. |
$3.50 into confederation bridge site on the |
- snd = first class ROAD should be made
ir fhs foot Of the hills beyond The river. |
~ frrt clsss,n IL not meant legal Or
-s-luiceI first class ro.d; but great SUB |
s'---Isi high. dry, smooth rosc. Sesrly |
III n Grspe.vine and part OF Isrrant |
- III travel this road. And al
ffs-'oi,ip Greet Valley viii either take
~. -osd or The Cedar Hill and fort hortn
---T 4 properly located.
80 he MeKinney and Dunton roso, ne
n. - HiIi eDd Fart Worth should Be he
,.--'s frcm he out END Of the pressnt turn.
- an me MOUNTAIN 20 . proper point o.
ti-s- pcs. This IL the best rrouDd tof
- :, ne county and 80 direct % esther
49, A. euv. IL Eili save Deeflg al tbs e1-
80. al rneklpe . rond 70 either 81 tboss
rirsss ana they both bsVs rniirosos 70
-, al N. development is u south
=. C-dsr Hi hss = rusd ~ jim Tow
Or nile east a that - rgso 70 messI
St.-.-l ore nile esst 81 thsf tne
BeckIsy rosd ana 'tls essi o tnsi = ~
are - ttrst rs....s.l 80 -. 1