News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1884-02-28
Keeping Roads in Repair.

'The town of Armenia, in Dutchess
county, n. Y, has tried, with marked
success, the plan of keeping force of
four or five men at work on the high
ways through most of the year under the
supervision of an experienced and skill
fUl builder of roads, who gives his atten-
ton constantly to the work. Every part
of the 75 miles of highway in the town
is in good condition, and the expense, of
keeping it so has been so much less than
it could have been by the old method.
The new plan has greatly relieved the
farmers, who have not been called to
work on the roads at time when other
duties demanded their attention. New
York has a law which directs that the
voters of any town may elect to adopt
this plan of hiring force of men and a
competent commissioner to make and
keep in repair the roads of their town,
but the plan, once adopted, must be fol-
lowed for not less than three years. 1t
has been found that by the method de-
scribed the roads have been kept in bet
ter condition than ever before, and that
the cost of the work has actually been
less than that of road-making by the old
way"
We find this statement in local pa
per. 1t is very full of significance fo1
farmers in other localities. The season
when town meetings are held for the
election of township officers is approach
ing, and this subject is one that can be
very proftably considered meanwhile
A vast amount of money is every yeal
wasted on the country roads, and with
nothing to show for it but wretched aD6
often impossible highways. 1t might
be suggested that in every township
where So, 900 is expended yearly upor
the roads, 81 900 could very well be pait
to a competent road engineer, who coulC
take charge of two or three townships
and s., 900 more spent in the constant
services of three or four men and pai
of horses occasionally. There would b,
at least saving of the whole S5, 900
81, 900 of it in money and s., 900 NOR
in the better condition of the roads
which would really be so much money il
the pockets of the farmers by reason G
the gain in time, horsefesh, and tn
larger loads that could be moved. PEI
haps there is nothing more than this tina
tends to show the apparent truth of tn
frequent statement that farmers do no
exhibit the aptitude for self-governmen
that should be shown by every citizer
and that consequently their influence il
public affairs is not felt as it should be
The wise administration of these lOca
and subordinate affairs is a valuabl
training for higher duties, and farmer
should make point of managing theI
in the most thorough and economics
manner. The farmer who will take pain
to fit himself by practice for these lesse
but still important duties, and will TAX
an active interest in securing wise an
economical administration of thes
{ smaller matters, will soon become fa
miliar with the principles of pOpula
government, and will very soon make h
influence felt more widely and effective
, ly. But the very least result will be thi
he will find the value of his farm az
vance in an equal ratio as he secure
, better roads. After that he will be alb
, to show other men the ways in whic
they should go, just as he makes his ow
+ ways better.