Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-16
THE FACTS AS TO THE ROADS.

The observations of The DIsPATCH's S
road investigation, as they have been carried
on for a weeks time, present some striking
conclusions. In that time a practical test
has been made Of the country roads in ALLIE
gheny, Washington, Fayette and Greene
counties. These are four of the wealthiest
agricultural counties west of the Allegheny
Mountains, and it is fair to presume that
their highways are fully up to the average.
The conclusions that can be drawn from
the reports published are tolerably clear.
An average Of 10 miles day has been
travelled by double team starting in good
condition and with light load, and yet
with that seven days work the team is
showing signs of distress. Every days
Journey. except that spent on the National
Road, has contained at least one experience
of miring. In some sections the farmers
have resorted to travelling on horseback, and
there is no doubt that the use of wagons at
present would require an immense expendi-
ture of power.
At the same time the possibility of main
tanning good roads has been made clear by
three cases. The old National Road. half
century after its construction, affords a
solid roadway, even under the prevailing
system of repairs. Two enterprising oases
in the Western Pennsylvania desert of mud
roads have kept up pieces of macadamized
highways, and shown the surrounding coun-
try that it can be done The hilly nature of
the country makes damage of the roads easy,
and the material for macadamizing is found
in abundance by the side of the most i'm
passable roads. In short, the only element
lacking for frst-class highways that can be
used all the year is earnest and intelligently
applied labor.
THE DISPATCH Commissioner has, so
far, mainly confined himself to a plain
matter-of-fact narrative OF the incidents
connected with every day travel over the
boggy highways OF the sections traversed.
He mas reserved for future publication i'm
portant facts and figures connected with the
construction and maintenance of these vital
arteries of communication. These facts will
be plainly presented in due time.
One important phase of the rural road
question, however, is briefly touched upon
in the interesting letter published in this
issue of THE DISPATCH. On the authority
of a township supervisor, it is stated that
some farmers-the individuals who are or
should be deeply interested in the matter of
good roadways-take advantage OF the loose
methods OF road supervision in vogue, and
either idle away their time or contribute their
quota of loose dirt to the already fluffy beds
of clay that disgrace and mar the topogra-
ply of the State. This fact of itself should
impress the new Road Commission and lead
TO a speedy revision of the road laws.
Where direct taxes for the betterment of
highways have been applied. under direc-
tion of competent overseers, the sensible res
lGents have in a measure reaped benefits;
but the benefits are purely local, as the lax
ity of their neighbors in adjoining town.
ships, who are subject to other rules and reg
ulations, and are satisfied with tax exoner-
ations earned at the cost of rich advantages
to be reaped from good roads. completely
isolate and deprive them of the advantages
which would accrue from a universal sys-
tenn which would guarantee uniform con-
struction and maintenance of State high
ways.
These are facts the demonstration of which
is important. With the need of roads, and
the ability to make them, thus established,
the importance of system by which they
shall be secured Is placed beyond dispute.