Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1885-01-15

dition of our public roads. have knowI
OF instances where persons from a dis
taAce were looking at farms in Harrison
county with view of purchasing, bui
on visiting those farms during our win.
ter season, or times of muddy roads
were so displeased and disgusted, that
they at once dismissed the idea of pur-
chasing.
There are certain principles to be un-
derstood and praeticed in the laying out,
construction and maintenance Of our
public roads, just as much as in any
ether trade or profession, and We need
such change III our road system, as will
secure the use of those principles eco.
nomically applied. If the masses of the
people had more knowledge of those
principles, there would not be so many
inefficient supervisors elected; or ap-
pointed.
In some professions or occupations an
| apprenticeship of some months or years
is thought necessary to qualify a person
TO work skilfully, or be able to manage
the business. A scheol teacher is re-
quired by law to pass an examination
before properly appointed officers, before
be shall be entrusted with his work.
An attorney must pass an examination
in order to be admitted to the bar. A
physician must have his diploma. But
the supervisor, the moment he is elected,
is supposed to be entirely capable of con-
structiug and repairing the public road.
and thus judiciously expending the peo
pies money and labor. although he may
have been shoemaker, or cabinet maker,
or storekeeper. or of some such profess
sion all his life, or any broken down
workman that needs a chance to earn a
little money.
Although considerable portion of the
labor expended under Che direction of
the supervisor is applied where it bene-
fits the road, yet great deal of time is
spent in idleness and conversation, and
much of the labor that is performed, Is
lost by means of misdirectioE.
Under our present system of road
working, a great portion of the work is
performed in the summer or fall while
the earth is very hard and dry. The su-
pervisor is expected, or compelled of ne
cesslty. to call out the hands when they
can best be spared from farm or other
work, regardless of the time which would
be to the best interests of the road.
Earth is much more easily and rapidly
moved in the spring of the year, while
tue surface is still moist and mellow
from the effects of the winters frost.
Plows and scrapers in the proper season.
and worked by men and horses accus-
toned to it, will accomplish two or three
ti.nes4as- much, ..s the same force would
in the dry season, after being compacted
by horses and wagons for several months.
Also, if the supervisor were some one
qualified for the position he would mats
uralIy be employed year after year. and
would learn by experience something of
the art of road making, and something
of the requirements of certain roads in
his district. Under our present statutes
it is provided that supervisor is not re-
quired to serve two years in succession.
So each year new man is generally cho-
sen for the position. As we'll might we
expect our schools to be properly con-
Quoted by selecting some one within the
district each year to serve as teacher, aud
enter at once upon his duties.
Before the location of road is deter
mined upon, the matter should be we'll
considered how difficult and expensive
it is to have line of road once esta5+
llshed, changed to new or better place.
The fields aud all farm improvements
become shaped and arranged to suit the
road. The land occupied by the road
becomes cut. and washed, and worn, and
much damaged for farming purposes, BY
the construction and use thereof. The
land where the road should be located,
is yearly becoming more and more yalu
able, and when the location is changed
the labor and expense of constructing
the road ill the former place Is lost.
As our country becomes better i'm
proved, and we possess more of the lux>
uries and convenIences of life, and We
have more buggies and carriages and
have more improved roads. Those that
are Travelled most, and lead to our towns
and railroad stations, need to be macad
amized or gravelled, ia order that we
can be enabled to market the products
of the farm at Ill seasons of the year. 1t
is not practicable under our present syst
TEN of working out road tax under the
supervisor,to do any considerable amount
of macadamlzing OF gravelling Of the
common roads. In some parts of our
State the plan works better than here
in those portions where they have their
gravel banks, and the line of road does
not need so much grading and prepars-
ton to receive the gravel.
Our road system might be very much
improved by thorough revision of the
laws relating to the construction of inn
proved roads, that is macadamized or
graveled roads. We have now three
different laws or plans of constructing
improved roads. One of these, the two
mile law, as it is generally called, the as
read is apportioned according to the ben
efits derived, and if the law is wisely ad
ministered. comes as near being just and
equitable as any law can be framed.
The other two plans, the one mile law