St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1889-04-20

eAs Dese way - Mako asA DsSsaP 1seAs
In Cosatry Dassrists.
The making Of new roads and their
repairs under the system generally ID
vogue throughout most Of the Ssases.
devolves almost wholly upon the agrf-
cultural portion Of the community. and
It may be safely said that in moth
ing in which they arc % deeply m
terested has there been % little Inn
provement Roads are quite often
found running directly up steep places
at the points Of hills. making both the
ascent and descent difficult. II not dan
gerous. when BY . more circuitous and
but little longer route an easier grade
could have been obtained. over which
far heavier loads could have bean
mc~ed with comparative easa Degs
and miry placsa are 6si1gsa ovsr -
Alled p h suoA . manner - - - ~
e1Hssd saly aeneGs:!.y, u u &0k'
70 again become virtnAlly inpossahee
h the worst seasons 4 - ysaE Whers
labor b expendsd On ~ Rods = \
quite frequently % timed = 70 inter.
fere a. little as possible with farm work.
and ut . season when the ground can not
properly settle and become hard b.
fore 1t is cut up by travel. and tho road
becomes a. bad a. before. Very much
Of the blame for this state Of things
may be laid to the road laws, which In
80 many Of the States leave the roads
wholly in the hands Of the people Of
small districts, to be worked only In
such . manner as the supervisor Of the
district shall direct and chiefly BY the
labor Of men working under tho com
pulsion Of law for the payment Of .
road tax at q stated per diem for their
services Usually the workers bring
the tools that suit them best and come
and 60 at will. and there ID no Uniform
ity observed in the different districts,
by which an important road passing
through them shall be kept In good
order in all. It is not surprising under
such state Of things that the people
in many Of the States arc not only be-
coming dissatisfied with their roads but
demanding Of their Legislatures such
change In the laws on the subject -
shall substitute more efficient service
and result in better roads To bring
about better roads 1t il absolutely neces-
sary that the system named shall be
changed to one of contract for specified
work to be done, or for direct pay under
the direction Of persons who shall be
held to . strict responsibility for the
disbursement Of the funds -
their disposal. and for the best
form Of road construction and
repair that the means will allow, and
in order to secure uniformity the whole
should be under the supervision of .
county superintendent The first thin;
to be done in improving the conditioo
Of . long line Of bad road should b .
review and survey that should rake
such changes in the route as arc rrac-
ticable to afford easier grades. and
wherever II can be done without mani.
fest injustice to residents. avoid going
over grounds uncommonly bad in them
selves How shall . country road Be
constructed. and what shall IL be made
Of when the route Is finally settledp
An answer to this question. 70 be Of
any value in special cases would require
an accurate knowledge OF the locality
to be passed over. its soil. geological
formation. and the means at disposal
In general terms a competent engineer
should be employed TO locate and deter.
mine - easy . grade ~ the natural
conditions Of this country viii allow;
locate bridges. culverts and bitches.
and % order the constructi0Aef the
road in all its particulars that the rain
fall on the road itself shall be drained
OF as quickly as possible. and that the
water that falls adjacent to the road
shall in no case be led into It or a.
lowed to Aow on it-Boston Globe