Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-16
NEED OF SIGN-POSTS.

A Law That Is Not Enforced-Hard to Tell
Where to Go and How Far When
Driving Over Allegheny County Roads
A Crying Evil
1t must be evident to every traveller in
this and other counties in Western Penn
sylvania that either township road super
visors have not posted themselves in their
duty under the law, or feel superior to law,
or depend upon the ignorance or careless
ness of the public for immunity not only as
to the repair of dangerous places, but in
their neglect to maintain at the intersec-
tion of all public roads in their districts
pointers, index or finger boards, pointing
out to travellers the town, village or other
place to which such roads lead and the
distance thereto. For neglecting this duty
a supervisor is liable to fine of SO.
This is a matter of more Importance than
many people appreciate. In a country
where time is almost generally regarded as
money there is vast expenditure of filthy
lucre, TO say nothing of anxiety and temper.
The woods in the first place are almost i'm
passable, causing travellers much loss of
time and wear of horse flesh, and when they
are subjected to the annoyance of going
astray or losing five or ten minutes at short
intervals to assure themselves that they are
on the right road the infiction becomes ex-
asperating If you depend on information
gathered from the dwellers along the high
ways you find yourself as to distance, in
much the same predicament as the traveller
in certain part of Ireland. Many will
give you the distance, reckoning from
their own residence, though they may at the
place of meeting be miles nearer or farther
from the place sought than their residences
Even on what few sign-boards you find the
matter of distance appears to be frequently
guess work.
In the southwest portion of this county is
hamlet, which, like ''many gem of purest
ray serene" is not named on any railway or
river guide, or tourists directory, and it is
locally known as Turtletown. Starting from
Enlow station, on the Montour Railway, one
day lately, a traveller undertook to trudge
to Stoops' Ferry, via Turtletown. Near the
latter place he asked how far it was to the
ferry, and was told about eight miles. He
was obliged to stop three times in the next
three miles to assure himself from residents
that he was on the right road, as he found
no guide boards at diverging roads. Finally
he found finger post which pointed the
way and gave the distance. After going at
a
fork. On this subject the guide-board had
been silent and one road looked as likely to
be the right one as the other. The weary
wanderer sat down and awaited the arrival
of a horseman, deserted some half mile
distant, and by him was put ON the right
road, but was by him informed that the dis
tance to the place sought was still two
miles further than that indicated by the
guide board, some two and half miles fur
ther back, which would make the silent
pilot liar to the extent of nearly five
miles. AS the horseman did not appear
overly intelligent he was pressed for fur
ther information, when it was learned
that he had given the distance from the vii
lage of Clinton, which he happened to
know, and he hadn't done it with any intent
to deceive When the traveller reached
Sharon his tribulation was ended.
1t is sometimes quite difficult to find
places in the suburbs of cities for want of
that should be printed on street
corners but here you can always, except at
night, find someone convenient and make
inquiry, but in the country travellers ap-
probation of the scenery is often sadly
marred by his uncertainty regarding his
way, and, as few people study navigation or
carry compasses, nerves and temper are
tried and time wasted.
If supervisors cannot find trees on which
to afix their guideboards they are author
lied to plant posts Were the townships
laid off as in Northern Ohio, Western Re
serve, in squares, travellers could have some
other guides to 60 by, but in our hilly
country one may wander as in a labyrinth,
unless he be something of navigator.
Some country silurians cannot see the neces-
sity of this kind of public education, but
clio &ho@
"What's the use of fnger-boards? I
can go to any place within ten miles of here
without once asking my way" But while
this same ''hayseed'' is well posted in the
locality of the Diamond Market, he knows
little else of Pittsburg, and would be indig-
nant if offered no better facilities for find
ing places in the city than are afforded ia
the country.