San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1890-06-12
AN ESTIMATE OF THE COST.
Tho Expense Involved In Securing Dcsira-
bio Highways.

bio Highways.
An interesting article on country road
Improvement Is published In The Wheel,
from the pen Of "Viator," which cannot
fail to interest 'cyclers and farmers who
are carrying on a vigorous campaign for
better roads. The most salient points OF
"Yiator's" argument are given below;
The American mind Is nothing II not
practical. The subject Of road improve
ments has gained so firm hold ON the
attention of our people that it Is simply
now question Of time, economic method
and financial ability when the roads Of
the country at large will be maoada-
mized; In other words, our ordinary dis
graceful, wasteful, dirt roads will have
become Foundation roads," To promote
ga contamination devoutly to be wish
ed," 1t IL only necessary now to demon
strate the practicability of the reform,
and to show that 1t Is within the flnan-
cial ability Of the average township to
have, without delay, first class roads to
all extent commensurate with their no.
cessitles.
1t has been settled by long, patient,
costly and scientific experiment that the
motive power Of horse on a "founda-
ton" broken stone road is exactly double
that of the same animal on an earth road
in very good condition. The experiments
of NORM In 1854 have established that
beyond question. Tho saving In time is
very much greater. The writer has HIM
self recently seen pair Of ordinary
horses trotting ut the rate OF six miles
per hour over macadam road, hauling
wagon containing 1000 pounds (more
than three gross tonS Of crushed stone
on Lowell grade.
How, then, Is 1t practicable to procure
such roads-at least In the majority OF
our older statesp
We will suppose that the area of tho
average township Is equal to three miles
square, and that to put in touch with the
great country road, and especially with
markets and railroad stations, 1t Is nee
essary to give it two intersecting "foun-
dation" roads, making In all twelve
square miles of improved road. or
course the existing roads would be util-
lied, but on this principle 1t may be as
sumed that these roads can be completed
for $4,000 per mile, and kept In repair
for per cent. annually Of their first
cost. This would give $4,000 as tho
sum needed for which to issue bonds.
The yearly charge would then bo . per
cent. interest on S48, ,000-$2, 400; sinking
fund, per cent. annually, for thirty
years, $3.50; total, $3.50. The repairs
are not here included In the annual cost,
because they arc needed in any event,
but under the present systems are COM
pletely wasted.
Tho outcome of tho plan here indicated
would be that as tho sinking fund would
liquidate the bonds at maturity the town.
ship at the end Of thirty years would
have at least twelve miles Of thoroughly
good road paid for, and which could be
always maintained at less cost than IL
now expended on roads that are some
times well nigh fmpassable. But this Is
an infnitesimnl part Of the benefit aris-
ing from the improvement. In many
cases the only reason why city business
men do not reside In some choice locali-
tics Il that they cannot have the pleasure
Of driving over good roads. Their settle
ment In any rurnl district ut once causes
the value Of property TO increase. In
crease Of population brings customers TO
the farmers doors for milk, butter, eggs,
fruit and vegetables. Il establishes
churches, schools, postoffices, libraries,
and, finally, villages. So that in the pro
forma case Of twelve miles under consid-
Grafton tho certainty would be that be-
fore tho maturity Of the thirty year bonds
az least double the mileage would DO do
nlanded and built.
The estimated price of 1900 per mile
here given l. intended 70 apply 10 six
inch macadAm roads based on tho exper-
ienoe Of building in New Jersey. But
this figure l. meant for roads that can be
constructed by machinery. The demand
for such roads has developed the fact
that tbey may be % built By bringing to-
gefher machinery that hitherto has been
used separately and not 10 the greatest
advantage. Il Is now seen that traction
onzines nay be used In coujunction with
au.onaafic stone spreaiiug machines and
sem rollers ia one oogtiruO1s train. -