The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-07-11
THE CoUNTYs ROADS.
The Advantage OF Good Roads to the
City-What 10 Being Done.

7
City-What is Being Done.
/ The interest manifested in the betterment
Of the county roads at the meeting OF the
commissioners yesterday, indicates that
/ practical ideas will obtain hereafter in the
construction of new roads, and in the re-
modelling of old ones
Roads are accurate tests Of the degree Of
| civilization a writer has said. They are
| Veins and arteries though which the prod
I ucts OF the town and untry flow, and in
| proportion 70 their number and excellence
Is the community hoalthtul and prosper
! Gus.
The county commissioners realize that
| agriculture is both directly and indirectly
! dependent upon good roads, IS they carry
! the productions Of the country 70 the city
market and return the farmers their com
nOdities and fertilizers at a cost Of labor
which lessons as the roads improve, and
tnus, as the cost Of raising farm produce IS
! cheapened, the cost 70 the consumers in the
city Is decreased
The following extract from report to
the house OF commons brings these facts
out clearly, and seems to aotuate the bosrd
OF commissioners in their effort to better
the condition Of the county roads:
BY the Improvement Of our roads every branch
OF our agricultural, commercial and mauufsct-
uring Industry would be materially benefited
Every article brought 20 market would be di-
lninished IN price, and the number Of horses
would be so much reduced that by these ami
other retrenchments the expense of e. 90. 900
would be annually saved TO the public. The eX-
pense Of repairing roads, and the wear and tear
Ok vehicles ami horses would De essentially
diminished, and thousands Of acres, the produce
oil which is nov wasted Ia feeding unnecessary
horses. would be devoted to the production If
food for man In short, the public and private
advantages which would result from effectinz
that great object, the improvement of our high
ways are incaiculable,
DR.. Anderson makes clear to the minds
Of those who have read bis mathematical
deductions OF the value Of good roads how
far reaching are the benefits derived. He
says:
Among the most remarkable consequences of
the Improvement Of roads is the rapidly in
creasing population in which their benefits ex-
tend and radiate in every direction, as impair
llauy and benlgnantly as the similarly diyerg-
ing rays OF the sun. Around every town or
market place may conceive a number OF
concentric circles TO be drawn nclosiug areas
from any part of which certain kinds of produce
may be profitAbly taken to the town; while
from any point beyond each circumference
the expense of the carriage Of the particular
article would exceed its value. Thus
the inner circle, at the center of which is
the town, may show the limit In every direction
from beyond which perishable vegetables or
articles very bulky or heavy in proportion to
Their value cannot be prodtAby brought to
market, the next larger circle may show the
limit Of fruits, and SO on II now the roads are
improved IN any way, SO as in any degree to
lessen the expense of carriage, the radius Of
each circle is correspondingly increased, and
tho area Of each is enlarged ~ the square of
TINS ratio OF increase This, if the improve
ment enables a horse to draw twice as much or
70 travel twice AZ fast as he did before, each of
the limiting circles is expanded outward to
twice its former radius, aud embraces four
times its former area. II the rate of improve.
nent be threefold, the increase Of area is nine
J ltd, and so on. All the produce, industry and
wealth which by these mpro vsments find, for
the first time, market, are, as IL were, a new
creation.
Commissioner Read said yesterday, after
the adjournment of the board, that the en-
gneer will at once locate the river road.
about five miles in length, TO the city, and
that the board will push forward the work
of road improvements as rapidly as their
means will allow.
County Engineer Thomas has recon-
mended that the board send a competent
person either to Augusta or Macon, or both
If necessary, 60 investigate the methods that
experience has taught the people to use in
their road construction, and report tho re-
suit in full and in detail for the future
guidance OF the commissioners. He recon-
mends this owing to the peculiar char
acter OF the earth excavated
| along the lines Of road way and as other
couuues are using "a composition of sand
and cay from the roadbedS intended to be
improved, and as no fixed or standard
method for using this composition is laid
down in engineering authorities, he thinks
1t more practical to learn from others
rather than to attempt costly experiments.
1t Is likely that Mr.. eThomas' recommends
ton will be fsvorably acted upon.