Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-02-21
ROADS OF nRASDrwIxs.
A Correspo ndent's Views ON the
Means of building Highways.

Means OF Buiidine Highways.
II it Is true, as essettsd by O correspond
emit of GAZETTE Il JOURNAL IN recent isBua,
that "the roads Of neighborhood indicate
the material progress aud intellectual con.
dition OF Its people," the population OF
Brandywiue hundred cannot be very lar
removed from the barbaric shades. But
this Is not true, as we know, for no part OF
the STATE can exhibit more progressive
spirit or better results In some respects.
The tax rates on roads are as high as thosa
of any hundred 10 the county and quite
double the rate OF some OF the lower hun
dreds. The peculiar topography and the
character Of the soil have much to do 10
causing road making and meuding to DC
expensive, bat not snf1clently SO to account
for the present condition OF the roads. We
must look further and find defective road
system and unskilful management. Tho
experiment of forming out the roads to tne
lowest hidden is manifestly failure. The
roads are worse than under the old plan
and In the end quite as expensive.
BY the old System, the sides OF the road
were dug ont In great Jumps and dumped
into the middle. Thls made rough road,
but secured good drainage, which Ia essen.
thai. Under the present system, the drain
age, II at all, Is often In the middle. There
are few evidences OF skilled labor In either
plan. In the cid system the sklll consisted
10 doing the least work with the greatest
pretence. Il was more the oil iect 10 work
ont the taxes than to make good the roads.
By the present plan the lowest bidder is
not expected to expend more IN repairs
than his bid calls for, unless he eontrived
an extra" by which he can make addi-
tional charges that will about even up to
the cost by the old System.
Good roads ara tho frst attractions OF o
rural neighhorhood, and no Investment
will enhances the vain OF real property so
much at the same cost. The beautiful Sit
nations on the Brandywlns and the Della
ware river lack nothing but good roads TO
rsnder them populous, for IN pc mt OF
heaithfulness and accessibility they have
few equals in the country. The Highlands
Of the Delaware, as geen by Strangers pass
ing up or down by boat or rail, look like
the "Happy Lands" where
Delightful It's to crown IN shades like these,
youth of labor with an age Of ease.
An occasional stately mansion on the
heights attest that the capitalist has
thought to realizs such drehms. The broad
river and the bay spread out FOR mlles be-
fore him, and diversified eoenery OF hill
and waterfall make charming back.
ground. Fertile fields, rich with crops and
thriving orchards, are all around. The
pleased stranger comes with his family and
brings bis horses and carriages In autiolpa-
ton OF many q pleasant drlya. 1t will be
their delight to explore every nook and
corner of neighbornoot so beautiful. In
this they are disappointed. They find the
roads bed Of dust mingled with loose
stones In ths summer, rivers OF mud In the
winter, and abominably bad at all SEASONS.
At BEyn Mawr, Dsvon, Wayne and many
other places not more favorablY situated,
lots sell at city prices. Why2 The wise
speculator FIRST builds his smooth, hard
IA al Nh.as aFsxI
| snd loads them through the lOvsliest
scenery, thus opening out TO first view such
| rural charms az the places possess.
Wedo not expect TO have expensive roads
kept In spiek and span condition all over
ths hundred. No, ws don't. But we ex-
| pect to have roads d-atned at tbs sides and
elevated IN the middle and decent breaks
to turn off the water. Is the demand un-
reasonable2 We'll, look around and count
the roads In your neighbothood that are no
/ 10 our modest standard. Our road is alter.
nately dust hole and mud hole as II
| rains or dries IN the summer, and frozen
| chaos of mud aud ice in the winter. Ourroad
keeper says he cannot mend II 10 the sum
mer because the earth is too dry and hard
to dig, nor In the winter beoluss the dirt II
frozen, and he Is too busy TO do road worh
In the spring and autumn,
As we have sati, good roads add c, the
value OF the lands through and near which
they pass, out of all proportion to thei
cost. 1t might be too much to claim tina
land yalues wouli be doubled by the max,
ing and maintenance OF good roads, bu
there IL no risk in saying that they pay al
their costs and leave surplus. They bene
Of the trade Of Wilmington, inasmuch a
they bTlng both buyers and sellers. wherein
with bad roads the residents OF the uppel
hundreds will trade IN Philadelphia, whicl
taey nan reach by boat or ran more cheapl
aud more aareeRblY than aey can drive d
Wilmington. We bsg cur people, both 4
town and country, to take the importsn
matter OF roads into earnest consideration
Coon RoAps