Waco evening news. (Waco, Tex.) 1888-1889, 1889-01-30
MORE ABOUT THE ROADS.

Mr.. EEIToR:-I fear We are tres
passing upon your valuable space in
our discussion of the road question,
but feeling assured that you recognize
the great and pressing Importance of
the matter, l will venture to reply to
"H.'s" letter in your issue Of the 26th.
Oh" INDUCES in platitudes about the
great prorosity Of this soil, insect
holes, etc, in fact, mixes up Agricul-
ture, Horticulture, AGRICULTURE, and
oven approaches Pisiculture, all Of
which we think foreign to the subject
He even assumes that / am ignorant
upon the subject Of drainage, whereas,
the contrary is the fact. He also par
allels the drainage Of swamp lands and
roads. l admitted that under drain
ing was efiicacious in wet lands, but
do not admit that it will make road.
III" has never yet cited an instance
where it has.
III" is wrong again when he asserts
the great porosity Of our black lands,
for their great resistance Of drought
comes Of their tenacity of moisture,
else why do our sandy soils fire 60
much sooner? The fact is "H" is
de!uding himself with a tile-mania
Practical and observing men know
that whenever you have expended
500 in thing a mile of this road you
have, as far as the travelling public il
concerned, practically buried thai
much money three and one-half feet
l must re-assert there is but one abso
Lutte plan at reasonable cost, and that
is the prevention of contact with the
soil coupled with ready surface drain
age.
The advocate Of baled material men
toned broom weed, and ! am convinc
ed tina. rightly applied, its lasting
qualities are indefinite, and it can be
had in limitless quantities at the cos,
Of cutting, baling and hauling to the
place Of use.
Mr. James asserts that all vegetable
matter will rot. Admitted; but the
length of life will be greatly enlarged
by the favorable conditions prescribed
in the plan for its use. He alst
speaks Of the tenacious character Of
the soil, and then suggests his plar
for making road like the "Rock o.
| Ages" in "a hours, but unfortunately
failed to mention several facts in con
nection. First, where is the gravel tt
come from2 Second, the estimated
cost; and last, he says not word o.
the intense contractile powers Of thi
land under our midsummer suns ant
drought, which pulls it apart in ifs
sures that would make travel absolute
~ unsafe on his road.
Mr.. Editor, this question has to b.
settled in some way and at some cost
1t would be the part Of wisdom 10 ex
pertinent with some of the materia
nature has provided, and if we fail t
find some cheap and durable plan, why
then, the demand is imperative for ma
terial from some more favored section
If we expect to progress in accor
with our resources, we must make on
facilities for transportation good. Tn
demands of trade and prosperity hav
outstripped the old ox-team days, an
the days of unfathomable roads ar
numbered. Nature has done much fo
US, but she has finished her part OF tn
contract, and we must now take up tn
z work ourselves. Ten miles of goo
road in any direction leading to Wac
Is worth more than any forty miles {
railroad we have, and property ON
would thrible in value immediatel
upon its completion.
Hoping you will keep the matt
before the people, am,
Yours for PRoGREss.