Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-08-14
COUNTRY ROADS.
The Question of the Proper Maintenance
of Public Highways.

of Public Highways.
If there is any one thing in which
the farmer is deeply and largely inter-
ested, it is the roads over which he is
compelled to travel. Over these he
must transport the produce of his farm
to market, travel to the Post-office, and
wherever and whenever his business
calls him. If these are in good con-
dition. it is we'll; but if they are in bad
condition. the liability of breakage of
vehicles, or wear and tear of vehicles,
horses, ETC., is something annoying be-
yond endurance almost. As the
population of the country is
continually tending , toward the
great business centers, and so gradual
ly becoming less and less the burden of
the repair Of public highways in the
name that they should be is becom-
ing so heavy that there is a disposition
to get along about as easy as can be for
the time beng; and it is a fact, much
as it is to be regretted, that in many
sections, especially in those sections
that are hilly and rough, that the roads
are not up to the proper standard of
excellence. The cause for this state
of things are numerous. First, the To-
cation Of many roads was faulty, going
over hills and across valleys whenthere
was little occasion for it; a a conse-
quence, with steep grades, and only the
loose material Of which roads are usu-
ally formed, they continue to wash and
leave exposed the loose stones and
boulders that were more deeply imbed-
ded in the soil. This is an inevitable
result upon New England hills.
In the next place. as the burden of
| the construction of country roads rests
upon it's population, which is small, it
is the common practice to cause it to be
done in the most economical manner,
without regard to durability. This
must be so from necessity, because the
entire property of the country wouldjbe
insufficient to build a durable road.
| Again, the business centcrs are now
connected by other means. Of transport
than by ordinary modes Of teaming, SO
| those whogdwell in cities and large vii.
lagos are less interested in the charac-
ter of roads than when they were
obliged to go acros the country from
place to place by means OF the Old
fashioned turnpike stage-coach. In
| those days the payment of tolls aided
in the matter of repairs, and the less
| important roads only We're a burden
upon the towns for repairs. The ques-
| ton of the proper maintenance Of pub
lie highways is one that will soon de.
mand careful considerat on, because OF
the tendency of population to central
ize in the large towns, and SO leaving
the small towns growing continually
weaker and weaker, both as regards
population and wealth; but complete as
| the network of railroads may seem to
be, there must ALWAYS be ways provided
for reaching the stations by means Of
the country roads. Common roads are
a public benefit, and there would seem
to exist no very serious reason why the
whole public should not be obliged to
aid in their construction and repair,
the same as in all other matters OF pub
lie interest. The entire public is taxed
| for the erection and maintenance OF all
classes of public buildings. and why
not roads the samep These thoughts
are suggested in view OF the general
| condition of roads as they exist. The
agricultural sections must be encour.
AGED or else a decline IN prosperity will
be inevitaRla-Prot: Ycomaas. IN .Ros-
] ton Globe