Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-02-11
Stanntot. Spectator.
WEDNEg, ~, FEBRUARY IL, 1885.
COUNTY ROADS.

It is not only in Augusta that county
roads are subjects of discussion, and theil
improvement matter of public concern
Below will be found the views of a Mary.
ander, which is taken from the American
Farmer. Nearly every citizen agrees to
the 'spersonal interest all should have in
securing good roads, but somehow or other
it is very hard to secure practical co-opera'
ton in carrying out feasible plan. The
plain truth is, that good roads, like other
pulic benefits, cannot be secured without
cost. Money to move the necessary labor,
or money and labor combined, which ag-
gregated is at last money, is the conclusion
of the matter, and to that focus all plans
must come or the public abide the conse-
quence, which every theory admits is, of
all, the most deplorable-bad roads. The
Montgomery county, Nd, correspondent
has this to say on the subject:
II would like the farmers of our county
to become forcibly impressed with this idea,
that they have a personal interest in the
roads, and all the work they may give on
the roads in substantially improving them
to their nearest market or depot, is not al
together given to the county, but returned
to them in facility of travel and enhanced
value of property. A writer says the
Country roads are, as rule, made of soft
and loose MATERIAL" and suggests the use
of "wide tires in the place Of narrow tires. "
We have all seen the persisteIcy with
which drivers stick to the old ruts, and ii
makes no difference how perfect dirt road
may be graded, the water that accumulates
in these ruts has to travel a long way t.
get to the side drains. I approve of the
quest our wheelwrights to give up a fixec
length of axles for wagons, as at present
made, and make them so that no two will
be exactly alike. The front axle might b.
made two or four inches longer than thu
hind axle, covering from six to eight inches
OF road-bed at one passage.
Fellow farmers, we have been in the Ole
ruts long enough; let us now try to get Out
of them by some means. would like to see
more hearty cooperation of County Com
mssioners with the farmers in making per
manent county roads,
We have always thought the suggestion
in relation to different gagged axles ju
dicious one, and certainly practicable wher
the broad tire is added after the roads art
made good. To follow Sin the same rut'
with wagons is a practice older thar
many theories which the quotation illus
trates in other matters, and how the de
parture is to be brought about is the ques
ton. Our farm and road-wagons are not
made at home now as formerly. 1t will re-
qnire something like national movement
to effect, and that not before convention
of manufacturers is held and uniform
system is adopted. When the Department
of Agriculture shall have become feature
of the General Government, exercising a
proper influence, it will be potent in &C
complishing many good ends, and if inves
tigation establishes different gagged wag
on-axles to be judicious and economical
and promotive of the producing interests
by lessening the cost of transportation tt
farmers, it can lend its aid in bringing
about the improvement just on the samt
principle that seeds are distributed. Tit
straight-laced politician need not b
alarmed. We are not asking the Gener-
Government to take charge of the roads
nor to direct how wagons shall be made
A uniform system in manufacturing differ
ent sized wagons and carts, and read.
supply of repairs at every agency for thei
sale would only be an enlargement of tn
benefits now available in field machinery.