St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1891-04-18
Good Roads.


When. we reflect upon it, 1t seems
matter of surprise that our people can re-
main satisfied with the general condition OF
the public roads throughout the country.
Yet it appears that we are all something
like the old fellow in Arkansas, who, when
asked why he did not finish covering his
house, replied: "Wall, stranger. when II
don't rain it amt any use, and when 1t 90
rain KANT" Just so it is with us IN re-
gard to working roads. In the summer
when it is dry, the roads are necessarily
good and travel is easy but in the winter
when the rainy season sets in and the roa1s
become muddy and DOGGY, we cannot work
them.
Until we have radical change in our
present bungling system of working
roads. it cannot be expected that our
highways will ever be improved, or be in
| a condition to stand use during tbs rainy
season.
Once or twice year the road overseers
call those who are subject to road duty
together. Some will have hoes, few,
spades. others axes, one or two will bring
a team and plows-for which extra COM
pensation is ailowed-and some bring no
implements at all. With this badly equip
ned force the "generalissimo of highways
begins the ludicrous farce of improving
the roads. Moving along without any
method or well defined idea of what should
he done. and how it should be done, the
work () begins. Here and there the plow-
men run a few shallow burrows the hoe
| men pull out the dirt to the center, and
| the spademen throw few shovels from
the sides, and par excellence this scratch
ing and scraping is called grading or road
making, No bitches of any depth are
made on the sides to drain the water from
the roadbed, and very often the center is
the lowest part of the road. Merrily the
i laborers 90 on, laughing and cracking
| Jokes. going through routine called
work. and the demands of the road law
ara said to be complied with. No one will
deny that this is the usual method of road
working in Louisiana, says the Crowlew
Signal. Yet with such tools to work with
and with such laxity in enforcing the road
laws how can we expect anything bet-
ter
The only relief that we can see is in an
entire change of the law regulating the
working of roads Instead of the present
! inefficient system of requiring so many
days' labor-that is so badly performed
let special tax be levied for road pur-
poses, With this fund let each parish
purchase one or two good road machines,
a ditching machine, a road pillow, and some
scrapers Then let out the contract to
some capable man for the year to ditch
and grade the roads in proper manner-
he giving bond and security for an efficient
and faithful performance OF bis duties
This plan would doubtless cost much more
at first, but by having high road beds
} graded and thoroughly drained, it woulo
prove matter of economy and saving OF
! time in the course of two or three years
Because, when good, high and solid roso
J beds were once established, it would re-
ouire but little labor to keep them In re
pair and in frst-class condition; ther
, travel would be unobstructed througbou
the entire year; few wagons or othe
, vehicles would be broken down; and full
! loads could be hauled to and from thu
marts of trade. If special tax should
not be levied for said purpose instead o
{ calling out SO many hands liable to roat
3 duty under the existing law, then q
( least, get the improved implements men
. toned SO that we may expediate work ant
at the same time have the grading ant
s draining performed in substantial AM
81 permanent manner. One road machine
Q drawn by a good team in the hands of
d man of good judgment, will do more an
d better work than twenty men under tn
n present system. Let US have change O
. some kind because country wlthon
9 rood solid roads cannot be prosperous an
:. progressive The t'old ruts" will neces
Il sariIy impede travel the 'old bogs' sto
e the wheel of commerce." and muca 9
9 the fruits of honest toll will be lost in tn
n .'mi,e" before reaching markei.-Souther
|, CatltipGt0r.