Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-10-06

crop OF nay Tor g. number OF years
without reseeding-N. j. Shepherd, in
Practical Farmer.
The Highway.
The following extracts are taken
from an address by Joseph Beatty
Powell Of the firm of Powell Brothers,
of Shadeland, Springboro, Crawford
Co., Pa, at COnneaut Lake:
There is no portion of the wealth of
any community 80 universally enjoyed
as that invested in the highway. On
the highway there is no aristocracy,
rich and poor, patrician and plebeian.
There they are all on the same level.
Az basis of q national, state and
county system, the speaker recon-
mended for the Improvement of the
highway g. national commissioner OF
highways, a state commissioner and a
county superintendent, all of whom
should be educated in civil engineering
and road-making. He wishes annual
conventions to beheld in the counties,
state conventions and national con-
ventioEs each year.
He would have cheap, durable and
easily understood index or guide
boards, with only one at each cross
road or functions Of roads. The posts
may be made Of two-lnch galvanized
gas pipe, with cast-iron bottom so
they can be driven. At forks in the
road, indexes should be placed at an
angle to correspond with the situa-
ton.
He recommended that farmers
should put their names on tablets on
the gate posts or shade trees so that
the traveller will know whose residence
he is passing as readily as in the city.
The lax for repairs of highways
should be collected in money. The
work should be done by the lowest
bidder or under the control of the su-
pervisors. Water makes the chief diff
terence between thegood summer road
and the poor winter road. In his To-
cality the speaker thought dirt roads
might be class as follows: Four
months of good roads for wheels, four
for sleighing, frozen dirt roads or me-
dunn muddy roads, and four months of
almost impossible muddy roads.
He believes that 10 per cent. of the
tax, by taking that notable stitch in
time, will effect more than 90 per cent.
in repairing damage after it is effected.
He recommends the Illinois law in re-
lation to steam threshers which en-
joins the carrying of g. red flag by day
and a red lantern by night, with one
man in advance and another in the
rear at a certain distance who shall
assist persons and teams in pass
ing the engine. At night each of these
men carries g. lantern. The engine is
to carry two oak planks on which it
shall be run in crossing certain classes
OF bridges.
Bicycles and tricycles should be al
lowed to use the highway subject to
certain restrictions In ringing bells,
carrying lanterns, and other regula-
tions to avoid the frightening of
horses. Breaking wild colts or driv-
ing unmanageable horses upon the
highway should be so restricted as not
to lmperil the safety of the traveller.
He would enjoin the use of broad tires
on vehicles carrying heavy loads, and
prevent uselessly cutting up the high
ways by heavy teaming in wet wealth
er. This should be done by g. system
of taxation, or perhaps by requiring
license, so that it will be much more
profitable for those who have much
teaming to do to avoid doing it in wet
weather. Where the railroad and
wagon road are parallel and close to
each other, he suggested that close
screens should be erected at suitable
distances into which horses may be
driven until trains pass.
Mr.. Powell closes with, 'Life is made
up of endless detail, whether it be in
training our minds, equipping an army
or constructing g. superb highway.
No one thing more clearly indicates
the degree of prosperity and enlighten-
ment of a people than the condition
of their highway. By DEMONSTRATION
of good highways can travel be made
more attractive, lifesweeter, and home
more beautiful"