The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-05-28

Il oee<Coly enytnln& 10 D0 desired. Dut It
= in good condition only few months
n the year, and during this period
farmers arc generally too busy with
their crops to allow them to ride for
pleasure or to do teaminR. When
their crops arc harvested tho soil Is
eaturated with water or the uneven sur
face 10 frosen solid. When in either
conditions It 10 almost impossible to
drive over It From November till
May period embracing the months
that farmers are obliged to do most of
their teaming in, the roads are in no
condition to DO used. Water accumu-
htes In al tho low places, and although
there may be bridges over the streams
the approaches to them are generally
submerged or so soft as to be danger.
Gus for teams. A team that will pull
ton over good road without Show
ing any signs Of fatigue become tired
after drawing an empty wagon . few
hours over ono Of these apologies for
road.
Every year the attention Of the pub
lic y called to the miserable condition
Of tho roads. The papers discuss the
matter at great length. State and
county conventions arc called in the
interest of good roads. At these gath
erings resolutions are passed and much
legislation recommended. The propri-
etors Of tile factories, the owners Of
deposits of gravel, and the patentees of
road making machinery all present
their plans for making and keeping up
good roads. II resolutions, legislation,
speeches and appeals to the public
would insure good roads tho facilities
for travel would be most excellent in
all parts of the west. All these agcn-
cies, however, appear to exert very lit
tie influence on the condition Of tho
public thoroughfares. Most Of the
plans suggested for making roads in the
country are too costly to DO put in prac-
tice. They require the expenditure Of
. sum of money that can not be raised
by farmers, many of whom are heavily
in debt, and nearly all of whom are de-
sirous OF improving their places, erect
ing new buildings, buying new stock,
and purchasing Implements necessary
to work the soil ana harvest crops. 4
tax that would put all the roads in
new country in good condition would
result in the ruin of most of the farm.
ers.
Roads are poor in most parts of the
west not because little money is raised
to improve them, but because it is in
judiciouslv expended. Much labor is
spent on roads to very poor advantage.
The men who know how to make good
bridges and culverts for earth roads,
or to grade tho roads are somewhat
scarce in every county, and they are
seldom selected to superintend these
operations. A man is generally chosen
commissioner of highways. or district
road surveyor, because he is member
in good standing in some political
party, or is known as '.clever fell
low" He would not be employed to
make plans for man who wished to
construct private roads or to superin-
tend workmen engaged in making
them. He is generally free to acknowf-
edge that he does not understand the
art of planning and constructing roads,
bridges, and culverts; that he has given
very little attention to these matters,
and that he has no taste for them. 1t
Is likely shat there are more men in this
country who understand the coMstruc-
ton of railroads than of common earth
roads. There arc ten books on the sub
ject of railroad construction to one on
tho making of dirt roads.
When the directors of great corpora.
ton wish to construct u railroad they
employ O competent engineer to plan
and direct all the work. He, with the
aid of suitable assistants and special
experts. prepares plans and spcciticu-
tons and lets the work to contractors.
The road is kept in suitable repair by
tho direction of trained experts. These
roads IRE constructed and kept in good
condition by the expenditure of tho
smallest amount of money possible UNI
der tho circumstances. The roal-bcds.
trucks. bridges. and culverts are con-
stantly watched and are repaired as
soon as they are out of good condition
in any way. 1t is not likely VIC shall
ever have good wagon roads till they
are built and kept in repair in the same
manner that railroads are. Men must
be educated and trained for the work
of constructing and repairing earth
roads and the bridges and culverts that
must be built in connection with them.
In order to prepare them for this inn
portant service they must have suitable
textbooks to study and proper teachers
to teach them. They must he employ
cd in the capacity of experts by county
and town officials in the same manner
that engineers are secured by the direc.
tors of railroad. companies. Chicago
Times.