The Republican journal., 1883-03-15

highways. If this could be expended judiciOus-
ly and in the best manner, the travelling public
would have less cause for complaint. In the
first place, the system which we pursue in the
choice of Surveyors or Commissioners, needs
the injection of little healthy Civil Service
Reform. In every town there are to be found
men who not only know how to build, repair,
and care for roads and bridges, but take espe-
ca pride in that work. Yet we too often see
the places which they should fill occupied by
those who understand neither the theory nor
the practice of that art, but who hold their Of
flee simply as reward for party seryice-often
of a questionable character. Politics and party
affiliations lead men into no stranger yagaries.
There is some reason why we should be rigid
party men when principles, which we believe
to be vital, are involved; but the matter under
consideration is purely one of policy and econ
omy. and the political faith of a road surveyor
or Commissioner can. in no way, strengthen or
weaken those principles. We cannot afford to
tritle longer in this direction. With improved
highways, our real estate becomes enhanced in
value, and our comfort, pleasure and conven-
fences are increased. The expense to which we
are subjected gives US right to expect an I'M
proyement. The first step that should be taken
to attain this desired end is to choose the right
man to eNpcnd our money regardless Of all else
except his fitness.
The true test Of a good road is the case and
comfort of the traveller. as we'll rs the amount
of tonnage that can be moved thereon by teams.
The former forgets all but the steep, stony hills.
Il l,4&,,
thinks only OF these when loading his wagons.
Hence, to these should the Surveyor first turn
his attention. All distractions such as stones
and Sunkcn logs, should be removed. This may
seem to be needless suggestion, but we all
know Of half sunken logs and rocks. over
which the patient public has painfully joted
for thirty years at least.
Tie most Of our steep hills might to-day, be
comparatively easy grades, if an intelligent
plan tending to lesscning Of grade had been
| adopted score Of Years ago and followed until
the present time. In many cases this may be
done by placing ali the loose rocks within the
limits Of the highway in the road bed at the foot
of the hill and covering to a considerable depth
| with earth taken from the top, thus making an
even grade tromtOp to bottom, and with proper
attention to bitches there will be no further
danger to be unprecedented from spring freshets.
If the soil of the hill il such that the road is full
| of quagmircS, and sometimes waves of mud are
| formed in the spring, a ditch should be dug in
the middle of the road. This may be done with
pillow and scraper, principally. and the rocks
| should be placed in the bottom loosely and in
|
| quite large quantities, when the earth should
be replaced. If properly done, you will have a
| road in good form and durable. The same plan
may be pursued on any piece of quaggy road,
| but if level it may be necessary to provide side
| drainage by wings Of the same construction at
reasonable intervals. In any event, when rocks
/ are moved at all, they should be placed where
| they can never in the ordinary course of events,
! find Their way back to the Inconvenience Of
any body.
! On All level lands, and wherever the soil is
| naturally wet or where the drainage is sluggish,
/ all bush and trees should be removed and kept
| clear to the extreme limits of the highway.
! This viii ut i'll lhc sunlight, the road will soon
cr become Try after rain, and the formation of
many deep Guts and sloughs be avoided. Be
sides this the ground will in time become free
/ from roots and future operations be greatly
facilitated. August i the best time for this
work aS the Stumps are then less liable to
| Sprout. When such roads are to be elteASireIp
repaired choose Is dry a time as possible and
! do good permanent work. Avoid throwing up
the road too high or making it too narrow. If,
as is USUALLY the case, there are large quantities
a..
| leyelng the road, not only at the time Of the
repair, but personal attention should be given
to smoothing the surface 4 second time, with
hoe ana spade after the lapse of two or three
weeks. Repairs Of this kind should be done in
/ June, in order that the road may harden before
| winter. DO all your work 50 that it will stand
| for years. If your successors do the same there
Y will soon W no I'LL roads tile pride Of commlln-
titles ana that of the general public will be
awakened, laborers Will be more faithful and
energetic than now, and our road system will
cease TO be the nuisance that it has become.
A matter OF Still greater Importance than any
yet mentioned remains to be noticed; namely
general neglect to care for those roads which
are in a good or tolerable condition. The law
VI tHN lt'iltlltN llldl lOUst lOChS Stldll
be removed from the highway at least once a
month during the greater part of the summer
! and fall. This statute is not often complied
with As q result, not only is much time, com
fort, and pleasure lost, but there is an immense
| aggregate loss in extra wear of carriages and
an occasional serious injury to horses. There
is no way whereby slight expenditure will
1t is often Of advantage to dig small trenches
from the middle of the road to the bitches, es-
! pccialy on steep hills, that the water may be
carried of thus preventing the extensive wash
ing away which so frequently occurs III fact,
good drainage should always be maintained
and attention should occasionally be given to
clearing side bitches and water courses, espe-
cially late in the fall and in the early spring.
The surveyor should ride over his district in
May, after a RAIN noting those spots where
water stands in the road and when convenient
| earth should be Spaded or cared to these places
sufficient to make them dry i'll the future
| Deep rutS ana mud holes should be filled with
gravel or dry earth as soon as they are formed
in the spring and it should be firmly pounded
'AONH W ltH y utdN NbOtltil maui. III IL CldNtN
road has been badly cut up by heavy wagons
it should be smoothed down with pick ant
spade as soon as the frost is out and the surface
thoroughly dried. BY timely attention to these
details many pieces of road may be kept in gooC
condition for years, with comparatively small
outlay, while neglect. present and habitual
causes Il needless annual expenditure Of thous
ands OF dollars in this State, every year.
The United States fish commissioner has fin
ished the preparation of its exhibit for The
forthcoming fish exhibition in London. The
entire exhibit, which is one of great variety ano
completeness, will be on its way to London be
fore the end of the present month. Prof. Goodt
of the National Museum will probably so with
it in charge.
The Gloucester, Mass, City Council on tn,
9th inst, passed unanimous vote of thanks tt
the Forty-Seventh Congress and to the Massa
chusetts and Maine Congressman for securing
the abrogaton Of the fishery clauses in The
Treaty Of Washington.