St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-08-10
Roads.

Roads.
Quite an interest was aroused a shor
time ago in the country parishes in i'm
proved roads. The complaints were
almost universal that the roads were il
bad condition and getting worse instead Of
! better; and that the present laws were in
sufficient and unsatisfactory.
| There was general demand for improve
ment, and it was even proposed that there
should be convention to discuss the stu
alton aid point out what laws are neces-
sary to give Louisiana an improved system
of highways.
The interest shown in this matter at the
time does not seem to have kept up, for
but little has been said of late in regard tc
| the proposed convention. And yet the
| subject is of ust as much interest now
as then, not only here but throughout the
| Union.
How important matter it is, is demon
strated by the publication few weeks ago.
by the American Economic Association, OF
book by Prof. J. w. jerks, Phi. D., on
''Road Legislation for the American State, "
the most complete and interesting work on
this subject issued from the American
press. This book is professedly written,
! in consequence of the recent recommends
tions of the Governors of Massachusetts,
and Pennsylvania to the legislatures of
their States, suggesting to them revision
of the road laws, and the presentation of
road bills in the legislatures of New Jersey
and other States, which indicates, Prof.
jerks thinks, that our present system is
defective, and that suggestions of improve
ments in it are timely.
| 1t is scarcely necessary to point out how
necessary good roads are, but Prof. jerks
gives some interesting facts and figures on
this point that should convince farmers of
the economy of good roadways. We are
very careless on this subject, he points
out, in consequence of building railroads,
have got to depending altogether on Jhem
without taking into consideration the fact
that all our produce has to be hauled to the
railroad station, and that it costs more to
carry a bushel of wheat on an average
American road than ton of it by rail.
In Illinois, where some very careful
estimates have been made, it is found that
full load can be carried on the State
roads only three months during the year,
two-thrds of a load three months, and a
half load six months. Good dirt roads
there would reduce the cost of hauling one
half, and good permanent macadam three
fourths. The defective highways the State
now possesses cost it an extra SIS, 346, $50
for hauling, and depreciates the value of
it's farms $3.50, 600, 900. In other words, if
it had good system of roads, the farmers
would be benefited $3.50, 900, 600 in the
value of their farms, and save $15, 800, 600
annually IN hauling, a good interest on
1885 900, 900.
Prof. jerks finds our system generally
defective. We have no classification of
highways as in Europe we have no skilled
authority or civil engineer to lay them out,
and as consequence they are often ill
placed and cost more than they ought to
we have no State supervision or organza-
ton there is not sufficient Capitalization
in their control, and too much subdivision
in some of the States each township or
ward being an independent road district
our labor tax, on which we mainly depend
is a fraud and the worst possible system
for road building we employ casual in
stead of regular labor we allow turn
pixies, that are being elsewhere aban-
doned in many States we elect road mas
tiers instead of appointing them =; and we do
not use steam rollers and many other i'm
provements in road building that ought to
be adopted. Altogether, he finds many
defects in our system and our legislation
which are responsible for many complaints
now being made against our roads.
Prof. jerks reviews the legislation and
system of other neutrality-suspicious.
France and England, which have such
magnificent b Tlways,-and by comparison
with the synSems prevailing in the several
States lays down the following suggestions
as the best suited to this country:
l. The abolition of toll roads or turn
pixies.
2. The classification of roads into first,
second and third class
First class roads connecting large towns
in the same or adjoining countries, to be
controlled wholly by the county authorities
and county funds.
Second class roads connecting those of
the first class and serving as feeders to
them, to be supported by the small dis
tricts, townships or wards, aid being given
by the county in case of special expense
Third class or purely local roads to be
supported by the wards, townships or beats
and controlled by them.
Q. The County Board or police jury to
classify the roads and determine the
amount to be expended on them.
f. The employment of a civil engineer
to have general supervision of the roads, to
lay them out, etc.
5. The division of the county into road
districts.
6. The appointment of a commissioner
IN each district to work the roads in accor-
lance with the instruction of the county |
engineer.
7. All work to be done by regular work
men as needed.
s. Highway labor to be abolished, Ex-
IA taxes might be worked out to advan-
age, especially if teams could be largely
Utilized
8. Permission to borrow money to make
roads under strict conditions.
t might be wise in some States for the
State to grant subsidies for this purpose
10. A State engineer to have charge of
my State ways to be constructed, to have
,eneral superintendent of all the roads in
he State, and to whom the county engi-
leers shall report.
The system laid down by Prof. jerks
lere is, it will be seen, better adapted for
he Western than the extreme Southern or
southwestern States, yet there are many
uggestions made by him that suit this
ection. Prof. jerks takes a very unfav-
rable view of Southern roads, and laws
n the subject. He presents, in succnct
orm, the legislation of the several States
nd comparison of these laws shows very
learly that the South is backward in this
natter. 1t needs roads more than any
Their portion of the Union, for the very
eason that it has fewer miles of railroad
nd therefore less satisfactory Transports