The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1891-05-15

Why and How Our Highway.
Should BE Improved.

i
70 practical article on the subject OF road
d says the New Albany Ledger. II ",
y written by John r. Brown, civil eng
d 'neer OF Rising Sun. Its length preclud,
) lite publication, but the following 9,
y tracts will show some OF its merit
+ After giving . history OF road max ins
Q ancient and modern, Mr.. Brown ii
+ sfances two farmers ten miles fron
market. Each raises 2.O0O bushels !
wheat. One lives on good road, haul
sixty bushels at load, and the cost o
marketing is 4 per cent Another live
ion bad road and it costs him "a pei
cent.
u That farmer who lives nearest to mar.
ket has the greatest advantage ia dispos.
ling Of his productions and in making
his purchases.
! That farmer lives nearest the mark et
whose road Is In such perfect condition
that DO can load his wagon With eli that
his team can draw easily, and quickly
move his crops st any season OF the wear.
when the markets sre most favorable. at
the will Of the individual.
Many Thousands Of dollars are voted FOL
aid in the construction OF railways byl
Localities remote from the great water
highways, but who ever heard or Al
county voting any large sum OF money!
and taxing itself voluntarily to build
and maintain good county roads?
The public do not look upon the
money paid 10 make roads as an expen-l
diture which will return to them With
interest compounded.
! venture the assertion that n ourl
county would vote 2 per cent. tax forl'
The purpose OF improving the county
roads, there would be such an era oil
prosperity that would far exceed the cyl.
pectations Of the most hopeful dreamer |,
The present system of working theI..
'oads is ell radically wrong, aud so long
g time lasts there will be no roads IN
Ter the system-or want Of system that's
low exiets. N
There should be . new Office provided a
ora county road engineer
night possibly also be . county lsndIe
urveyor, IL the county was small. Hele
hould have exclusive control OF the 2
oad work, experimenting the laying y
Vt Of new and changing Of old roads. g
nd direct where. when and how allIes,'
Dad repairs should Be made. q
All road work ehouId be done BY con- ~
ract, - fAr % possible. instead Of by| IL
~ work. Il
Any farmer or taxpayer shonld beI &
riviIeged 20 take sufficient contract 10! 2
over the amount OF bis road tax. and !"
rade. surface, bridge, or ditch : certain q
mount Of roadway 10 . specified man. q
er, just as IL be were contracting With O
ome railway or other corporation. ts
The work would then be done 10 AL
usiness-like manner, instead Of having "
general Publication party, ss is now C.
ten done.
One Of our most important Office. our .
I'D supervisor, now goes begging for 4
occupant, because. through the psrsi. se
ony Of the Law, be is refused Z eslsry %
'mmensurste with the kno ledge. 80
I'LL, interest and firmneas required byl
g person competent to fil the position.I
In laying out road IL should be re- LOT
embered that in road engineering the pc
ortest distance between two points Is ia
y ways q straight line. 81
From the bottom to the top Of Q hill. st'
Try often . curve. or succession oil 80
rvee, giving an easy grade, can bel w
ore quickly and easily travelled. and Gu
lib far greater load. than to 20 di. II
city up or lock wheels and 60 straight co
'wn the slope. NJ
Keep in mind; THE chain is only aslLi
'ong &c the weakest link = and the load se'
Iy can be hauled over the road thstl
2 90 drawn upsthe steepest part Of the y
II. III
DO not depend on over-exerting the lin
Inns for short distance, for. although 81
- may DO able 10 stand II, yet theyi
u be the better able to maintain their tai
eed and power II not required 10 over as
ala themselves. no
In grading the road few hours' work DO
cutting oG . lump or making . fill
thus securing uniform grade. will
work that will count century hence
the surfacing OF stone and eli futurelo ~
'sirs must be upon the good or bad ~
lding Of to-day. 80
Water 10 The one great eremy OF elll.sY
ds. II rushes down the hill sides. &C.
nulating force az Il proceeds, and yio- ~
ny tesrs up cuIverts, cuts great lilies : n
The road-bed, deposits clay and mud :, 4
IN the stone snrface, forms its rivulets !, -
Dg the wagon wheel tracks which,.
~ away the finer particles of stone. NJ
ring the track rough and uneven :l,..o
I. ~. I. s, ~'ss.1s, 'v.ms eiare o. ice lple
lcult. II not stopping Il entirely. On 4.
roads when thoroughly mixed byl I,
mails and vehicles, IL forms the Gus s-lunt
ary ruts and holes Of mud. lgoi
ence II should be excluded as far as|this
sible by thorough drainage. liz Il
vide. fat road bed 10 very objection a 2
!; u Is better to have narrow track. iel
7 wide enough 10 permit the passage W
'wo vehicles readily, as the cost Of nan
'truction is less than . vide track lanx
the water will drain away more mes
ky. Cor
. throw large stones into q miry 80
x gives but temporary relief when 60 ~,
ling In the future they greatly Oh. ov ~,
CT the work. ss.e
. ruis occur from the constant wear M M |,
' vheels travelling the same track, early
ng is the best tune 20 apply fresh ma A
Is IN repairs. Al that time the capi
cn stone is crowded deep into the Oil 1