The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-11-26
COUNTY ROADS AND BRIDoEs.

~ iS bupjecC OF pleasant reelection
that the lato county board of commits
sioners has devoted so much of its time
to the Improvement of our avenues OF
travel and accomplished so much in that
direction. In the past year more than
double tho amount Of work and expendi-
lures has been appropriated to this pur-
pose as compared with any other year
(unless it be the year when the bridge
at tho foot of Commerce street, across
tho Trinity, was purchased and it can
be truly said that the roads and bridges
IN Dallas county are in better condition
than at any previous period of her his
tory. II has been discovered that the
blackwaxey land, so formidable
an obstruction to travel in
bad weather, can loo successfully
treated in the highways by the round
ing up or mounding procoss, leaving
large bitches on either side. Under this
System the ground soon dries, and now
not near so much clamor is heard of I'M
pas able roads as in times past.
The HERALD is OF opinion that the
laws noed some revision on this subject.
Whilst it is true that there was an owl
dent intent ON the part Of tho legisla.
ture to compel the working of the ronds.
yet it seems that tho penalty attached
is so severe as to defeat tho very object
or ITS enactment. undor its provisions
a man can be indicted for failure to ia
MS part in woodworking, but nobody =,
indicted aud tho law becomes inopera.
tive. a less severe and moro practioul
statute Is required which could he exc.
cuted by securing the services called
for, or its equivalent in money
As to mackadamizing roads, as in Ken.
lucky and Louisiana. IL is we'll to recop.
nize the fact that It is imptacticnhle. W,
have mo- suitable stone convenient in
sufficient quantities, and To import Z,
would be 20 expensive AS TO remove tho
idea from consideration. It's said thai
shedding a road with rough lumbo,
would cost less than paving It, but b,
that rs ii may, it would certainly he pre
feraale to cover with plauking thoyor,
low places where dltching and roundinf
up in the middle are Ineffective, :,
patching With rock,
The advantage 20 the citv of Dallas do
rived nom good roads and bridges c,n
not be overostimatod. Several elite,
that could be named, conspicuous,
Maysville, Kentucky, have achieved lot
themselves a substantial prosperity b,
dev"tng their principal attention
To securing acc IS to their mart,
by the construction of fine avonu es an,
lnoroughmres, oven to the exclusion d
largoss offered to railroad compeuioq
rho concentration In q city snrround,,
bVamasuiilcent country Ike ours. GUAR
mtees solidity ol commercial nrns
perily which neither contraction po
panics can affect.
The llERALD can Su sgost TO the pres.
ent board ouly two things: First
careful consideration oftho PRESENT law,
AID the preparation OF bin that vii
enforce road working, to be presented I,
the legislature, Second, the adoption ~
system of roads, not making iudopoud
ent lanes here and there, bat a regularly
organised plan of operations, by which
all viii tend to common c,n,ro nnd
preserve consistency Of route, O,
course the shire town or the great city
II thero be one, will always DO the focus.
ing point.