Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1886-03-15

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some time past, and has produced re-
suits that are not generally known
or appreciated ID orr community.
A great part ofsbe work has been
done by voluntary contributions
on the part of our people. but as there
il jet need of such assistance . few
lines on the subject may be both ofin-
terest and utility.
First, a word or two as to the great
importance Of good roads. 1t is a
singular fact that while most people
admit in general way that roads
ought to be good, yet practically
their being so is treated more as
matter Of comfort and luxury than Of
actual necessity. IfoDe should as
sert that good public road system
ID one of the greatest attractions
community can possess;that it is one of
the best investments of public energy
and capital; that IL is an infallibIe
sign of thrift and q bigh-water mark
of civilization; bis assertions would
scarcely be called in question by any
one; and yet whilst admitting their
truth the road system of the planet
Saturn might as well have been in
volved in these propositions, so far
as any practical results from their adj
mission 10 this section would be con-
cerned Perhaps If we could have
exchanged rings with Saturn. we
would have arrived at an earlier solu-
ton of the difficulty. We teach our
children that the magnificent roads
of the Roman Empire bound together
her scattered provinces aud made her
mistress in the commercial world as
well Us in that of arms; and we accept
the sta ement that the proverbial
thrift and prosperity of the modern
French peasantry is largely due to the
wonderful high-roads constructed 10
all directions throughout France by
the genius of Napoleon. And yet,
all the same, we have seemed content
to go Oh year after year Laundering
along our own wretched highways
(Which justified the worst exeerations
of Dickens on American roads, With
scarcely hope of anything better. =
If we look at it as matter of dollars
and cents the apathy on the subject
that has prevailed for generations
seems still more extraordinary Bad
roads make bad horses; heavy addi-
tional expenses in feeding and renew
lug worn out stock, and in repairing
broken-down vehicles. They require
farmer to keep extra teams, at great
expense, to pull bis crops through
sand, out of mud holes and up bills,
which would not be found OF all Oh a
well constructed road. For the essen
tial requisite of good road is to have
it as smooth and as bard and as level
IS possible.
A moments consideration of the
reason Of the thing" will show what
a heavy additional expense to the pub
lie is . sandy or muddy road, even if
it he level
It is one of the teachings OF the
science of mechanics that the wheels
of vehicles are chiefly useful in dimin-
ishing the friction OF materials to be
overcome ia the onward movement.
Thus, TO take strong case, wagon
sliding without wheels, even on q
railroad of creased and polished iron,
would have TO overcome friction as
much greater than that OF the wheel
m its polished and creased axle as
the diameter Of the wheel is greater
than that of the axle. But, ia ordi-
nary sandy or muddy roads. by far
he greater part of the resistance to
the motion Of carriage is that which
results from the pressure of the soft
materials against the wheel as it
TRUSTS them forward, or displaces
them behind, in It's movement. Ow-
iUg TO this there is continued push
against the fore part of the wheel,
and continued pull back. or dead
weight, ou the rear part of the wheel,
rs it lifts or displaces portion of the
soft bed of the road; consequently in
a soft sand or mud, although the axles
OF the wheels may move in direc-
tion perfectly horizontal, the draught
becomes extremely heavy
Mechanically it has been proved
that on smooth road a wagon with
wheels four feet in diameter, sinking
one inch into sand, has, by reason of
that fact, more than one-ninth added
TO the horizontal resistance to its pro
gressive motion. OF course the more
the wheel siuks the greater is the
resistance. What the difference to
the poor horse you'd amount to on
some Of ouc sandy roads can be
readily cunjecturcd.
IA than fhn maafn IL time that