Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-31

In England the country roads are so gooC
that a single horse can pull vehicle with two
Passengers and a driver more than forty mile:
day. and do IT with perfect case The public
highways are likewise good on the continent
The European roads are almost everywhere put
down with eurbs and well drained into securely
paved cutters. Each householder in France il
required to break or pay for the breaking of a
certain Quantity Of stone, TO be used in keeping
the highway in repair. There is nearly always
perfect supervision by the authorities, which
Keeps the roads IL most parts Of Europe IL
prime condition
How is it in the United States. except in a
few Localities, mostly near the great cities and
where the settlements are numerous ami popu-
ious? The road work is a mere farce i'll its re-
suits, and Jet burdensome on those who are
compelled to leave other employment oc-
easiOnally and d. it. The system of neglect
during portion Of the year is Supplemented
by the system of doing things the wrong way
when they are done at all. Roads might be
turnpiked culverts built bridges improved.
stones broken for the roadbed and laid in place.
In word everything that is not now done
ought to be done, and whether the French plan
OF compelling the people along the highways
or who use the highways TO perform q def
mite share OF the necessary labor be adopted,
or the plan he preferred of relying on
a sufficient tax-rate. it is high time We
were doing something. The fact that some
thing radical ought to be done in the mat
ter is apparent to everybody. Even those who
neglect their duty N the premises admit this
and give as an excuse that they have not the
means to be taxed for il or the time to devote
10 doing the work themselves. In this they
in error. The great drawback to i'm
proyement--ons reason why the country peo-
pie have ground TO complain Of poyerty-is
:he badness of the roads. Poor roads and the
tact that there are no guidebOards on such as
exist, deter would-be purchasers from investing
their money. Lately a northern man who
thought of buying tract of land for occupa-
ton and handsome improvement somewhere
in Maryland In tho vicinity OF Washington, I'M
dertook to explore the region in question, but
WIS so much disgusted By his experiences in
trying to find his way through the labyrinth Of
wretched country roads, wholly unproyided
with guideboards, that he abandoned the idea
of settling in a country SO wanting in the rudi-
nentary elements of civilization. This case
affords an illustration of the way in which the
prosperity Of country.
. Men from cities. accustomed TO good thor
oughfares and other conveniences, may be
tempted by the pure air. the freedom and the
pleasures of country life. to reside for part OF
the year at least ..far from the maddinS
crowd" but if they find nothing but n cowpath
wldened and flied with roots and mudholes
they viii ofterer refuse to take up their resi-
dence than not in community so careless Of
its own comfort and welfare. Not only does
the citizen in the country who neglects his
roads ignore his personal comfort and shut his
eyes to the possible riches from sale of land
and general improvement. but he wears out his
teams and loses much valuable time that might
be saved The state of Pennsylvania has roads
far better than the average. and vet a writer
OF prize essay on road making estimates that
there is an annual loss, By reason of bad thor
oughfares, OF four million dollars What must
be the loss in the states where the dirt
dumping, happy-go-lucky style of maintaining
roads prevails and has prevailed from time
immemoriali