Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-07-04
Pnl,lio Roads.

The subject Of public roads is one
that now engrOsses much attention In
Texas, and it Is one that has di-
rect and great interest not only
for the farmer, whose time and ve-
hicles and horses are involved, but for
the merchant whose trade and profit
are at stake. Dallas, as we learn from
the papers Of that city, is giving seri-
Gus attention to the matter, and the
outlook is that the farmers of Dallas
county aud the merchants of
Dallas city will soon become
the beneiiciaries of their own
timely action. From the Bren-
ham Banner we learn that the bust
ness men OF BRENNAN are also moving
IN this important matter. A recent
article in that paper says: at seems
that the business mems meetings are
Mt last about to be productive of much
good, 1t has dawned upon our bust
ness men that in order to have large
( cotton receipts and good trade it ia
necessary for farmers to bring their
cotton and other produce to Bren-
ham; that in order to do 80 they
must have roads over which q
loaded wagon can pAss. In the
summer season when there is nothing
to haul the roads are hard aud solid,
but In the fall and winter, when there
IL hauling to do, the roads become soft
and impossible. The business men
think that it Is time this condi-
ton of affairs was changed and we
think that farmers who have spent ten
or twelve hours and lost their religion
in travelling eight or ten miles over n
nearly bottomless road viii! fully agree
with them. The committee appointed
to inquire into the condition of the
roads and suggest means of remedying
them made an elaborate report last
Monday. Their suggestions, we think
in the main will meet with the cordial
I Enforcement OF every farmer and
planter in the county. 1t will he no.
ticed that the committee condemns
the present system of working the
roads "a being Ineffective The plar
/ of working the roads 10y calling GU
the roads hands has been Ia practice
for many years. The present condi
ton OF the roads is all the evidenc,
. that is needed TO show that it is first
class failure and to great extent
farce. The suggestion that convic
labor be employed on the public roads
will, II we are not much mistaken
met with popular favor. In order t,
J. have good and effective work done OF
the roads it Is necessary that expert
/, enced road builders be employed t
4 superintend the work; bitches an,
a culverts must he made where needed
y to protect the work, otherwise the hrs
heavy rain washes away all the fill
and leaves larger holes aud guile
, than there was before the filling wa
II done. The most important part &
o road work is the construction of per
r manent bridges, bridges that will no
,, wash away every time there is
d little freshet; next In importance ia tn
c making of the DOGGY or seepy parts O
l. the reads passable in wet weather
3. The commissioners court Is now work
|. ing on bridges, and they promise to d.
\. their best to give us good roads. Their
is plenty OF rock IN several parts of tn
e county and whenever practicable
IT should be freely used. Good road
y would Increase the value OF ever
70 mans property In the county and ais
4 add materially to their comfort, be-
cause 1t is pleasure to drive a team
h over good road. This question ofput
2. lie roads is one In which there is con
" mnnity OF interest between city an
r country, and the business men of For
1t Worth are very blind to the growth {
l. their trade-indeed, to the preservs
n ton OF that which they now have
D. they do not bestir themselves to speed
y action. The farmer will cooperat
+ most heartily with the tradesmen, 70
z good roads confer no special benofiI
It A thoroughly efficient system of goo
d roads leading from Fort Worth In ce,
e tain directions would do more for ou
l. trade than anything yet mentioue,
!. for its Improvement.