The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1890-03-20
Read Improvements in Tennessee.

nSuu Improvements III AOHHShscos
1t has been said that "the degree of
= nations civilization might be guag-
cd by the condition OF its roads" If
this were true, our country must needs
rank low among the civilized nations
Of the world. However this may be,
the present conditions of roads in the
United States should make us hearth
ly ashamed OF ourselves. The i'm
proyement Of highways should be
carefully considered by all classes of
our people, for it especially concerns
every property holder in the land.
Farmers, as a class, are more directly
concerned in the matter than any eth
srs. Until the present stereotype Sys-
tam OF maintaining(O our country
roads is abolished, we can hardly hope
for better highways. At present our
road taxes are almost wasted, Many
OF our roadways seem to grow worse
instead oil better.
"Ths badness OF the roads in Ameri
ca" says writer, "has been attribut-
cd to the development OF railways,
= \ but the possession OF rail-
ways no more does away with. the
need for good highways than with the
need for horses and wagons, as is
effectively shown by the accepted Ell
mate that it essts more to get the
average bushel of grain from the farm
to the railway station to the seaboArd,
and, that, udSr present conditions, a
locomotive can haul ton OF wheat a
mile more chesply than q farmer can
haul . bushel."
The difference between q good road
and q bad one has been proved by ex-
psriments with dynAmometer, which
that any one Of the better class of per-
mansnt highways will enable team
to draw on level about iour times az
much as the same team can draw on
our country dirt roads. A civil engi-
nssr has shown also, that on the
"sandpapered" roads of England a
horse can perform twice as much
work AZ tho same aniAal could &C
complish in America These facts
show plainly the great advantages
to be gained by good macadam high
ways over our ordinary country road.
1t 10 q false idea that is 80 prevalent
among all classes OF people, that the
maintenance Of well built macadam or
gravel highways is so expensive.
The frat cost Of construction will be
greater, OF course, but the amount
saved by those obliged to travel the
roads when these roads are smooth
and hard, more than repsys them Tor
the additional expense OF congtruc'
tion, and the csst Of repair would be
no more, were the repairs properly
done, than under the present system
This has been proven by the expert
ments OF experienced road builders
When the farmers and others who fre
4 .qusntly travel what we now dignity
by the name of "road," consider the
great amount OF wear and tear which
vehicles are subjected to on rough
and heavy roads, and how much o
this would be saved had we an i'm
proved system OF highways; and wher
we consider the fact that team o
horses can haul twice the load on I
smooth macadam road that they car
on dirt, as well as do their worl
more quickly, being able to travel fast
er thereby saving much valuable time
and when any observer can see tha
teams break down so much NOR
quickly when compelled to work owe
eur miserable highways, thereby ne
cessitating the purchase Of new team
At too frequent intervals--every on
will readily see that the outlay Q
funds required for the construction G
good roads would be doubly repaid i
the saving and. aiding of labor an
other expenses. Let all OF our peopl
consider these facts, for that they ar
facts hap been proven by mon who ar
capable Of judging in such matters.
As above stated, the hrst coat o
constructing improved HIGHWAY
might necessitate an extra expend
t1re Of money, but individuals nee
not be taxed beyond their means, nc
would they under the system l,inten
TO propose at some future tins. | hop
then to present some practical an
practieahls plan for che building an
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