Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-29
market to the farmer at any season, the
benefit to the merchant would correspond to
the prosperity of his customer.

market to the farmer at any season, tn
benefit to the merchant would correspond :
the prosperity of his customer.
PRESENT METHODS OF NO AVAIL.
Road legislation in the United States |
backward. While on other questions o
equal moment the advancing tide of civil
zation has been met with competent legisla
tion, on this subject practically no chang
has been made in our policy since colonia
days, when the present system was the onl,
one practicable. By our present method o
local control roadways are often built whsr
little needed and aiterward permitted t
fall into disuse; no classification OF roads i
made and public and private, county ant
township highways receive the same degre'
of attention. In addition to this, in laying
out a new road under the present regime o.
control by county boards, less thought II
taken of grades and drainage than of util
izing that land which can be used in NJ
other way. Under this system men are fire.
quently appointed who. while practica
enough no doubt, have had NO previous e1-
perience in road building, and whose only
qualification is that they are among the
largest taxpayers of the community.
None of the Pennsylvania towns, so far as
know, possess skilled engineers to lay out
determined upon BY the Court of Quarter
Sessions ON line fixed BY six viewers of the
neighborhood, appointed by the court.
Is 1t to be wondered at that such haphaz-
ard legislation should result in ought else
| than the poorest kind of roads, especially
| when we consider that these roads are built
and maintained by labor tax under the
supervision of an unskilled road master.
.nDrx-c rScrrr N ro rNrrrpv
ANY attempt to remedy existing evils
must necessarily entail the abolition OF cor
rection of the present method or working
out" road taxes. This has been suf-
fciently caricatured in the past to need no
further condemnation. Omitting the fact
that more time is consumed in telling stories,
discussing politics, religion and local topics
than upon the labor itself, the work accom-
plished is usually so desultory and un-
scientific that more harm is frequently done
to traffic for months after than the eventual
benefits resulting therefrom. Many time
has the writer seen roads left, heaped up
with sods and other indigestible stuff which
would not be'removed for weeks, either be-
cause the farmers could spend their time
more proftably at other pursuits, or else
their time had been worked out.
The first and indispensable requisite neces-
sary for any improvement at all in our roads
is the employment of a competent engineer,
possessing suficientauthority to plan and lay
out all new roads and to direct all improve
ments which he may consider necessary to
be made. This is a matter of prime neces-
sity, and the cost of such an engineer would
easily be saved by the more efficient direction
of labor which would result. In addition to
this every several adjoining townships, or
at least every county, should possess steam
roller or road machine, which may be
secured for $1,000. Such machine will
pay for itself in a very short time, and
scientific road builders maintain that good
dirt roads-for macadam roads are not to be
hoped for as yet-cannot be constructed
without one.
1t is extremely doubtful if any county
can be induced to go farther than this in
road legislation at present in view of the
constant fear OF increasing the burden of
taxation which would be incurred. 1t is
certain, however, that so long as our roads
are maintained by our present methods, just
States continue to be the worst in the civil
lied world.
THE LEGISLATURE MUST LEAD.
Prof. jerks, who has made detailed and
exhaustive study of the system of road max
ing in foreign countries, maintains that all
initiative must come from State legislation,
inasmuch as the rural population are very
of old customs and slow to in
cur any unnecessary expense. He suggests
in addition:
neers be appointed with certain supervisory
powers over the counties, which latter |
should be permitted to retain perfect au-
tonomy in the administration of details,
but should work in concert so far as pos
sible.
In addition to this board, each county |
should provide for an engineer, empowered |
with sufficient authority to lay out new |
when needed, repair old ones and |
determine all minor questions of width, |
grade and drainage. In order to reduce un- |
expense he might also be County |
Surveyor.
The Board Cf County Supervisors, which !
now exists, should divide the county into
road districts. which might correspond to
.ownships. Each district should maintain
,ne or two men, employed within the dis
,rict upon the roads the entire year; who
shall be under the direct surveillance of a
district road commissioner, who should also
De a competent man and auswerable to
he county engineer.
This plan, which is substantially the same
IS many European countries have adopted,
entirely abolishes the system of labor levy,
Unless it can occasionally be used in road
construction or where made necessary BY
epairs in the spring of the year.
The common objection to system of this
lind will of course be that of increased tax
tion from the employment of salaried Off
ials. But when we consider the present
Vasteful system of labor, as well as the d.
ect loss, together with the social effects re-
ulting from our present poor means of
it must be conceded that
ven considerable additional expense
which is not conceded as necessary-could
ot be incurred in better way.
FRED c. HOWE,