Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1891-10-29

, SUFFICIENT time has nov elapsed
since the Road Grader Contest held
here to enable US to form an opin.
ion as to the results likely to fol.
low. The trial was held under the
auspices of the State Board of AgrI-
culture, and by their invitation
about forty counties in the State
sent some county official as dele.
gate to observe the machines enter
ed for trial and to report on their
return home as to the practicabllity
of making roads by the improved
machinery and also as to the econo.
my of working roads by these meth.
DDS. The contest was very spir-
tied one, and any article written at
the time of the contest or directly
following it, might have been ting
ed with the enthusiasm of the occa-
sion and wanting in the deliberate
Judgment with which thu question
should be treated. We think we
voice the sentiment of all who wit
messed the trial when we cay that
the work done by the machines
proved, beyond doubt, that the old
and wasteful methods Of expend-
ing the taxes for road purposes
should he Immediately abandoned
and the improved machines used
for doing all Of the work in the
nature of ditching and turnpiping,
while the wheeled scrapers should
be used for grading down the hills,
filling in hollows and about cul-
verts. The machines proved them.
selves capable of doing the ditch
ing and turnpiping at less than 25
per cent. of what it costs by the old
methods. AS far as the moving of
the dirt is concerned, while it is
impossible to institute compari-
son between the condition of the
road as finished by the road ma
chimes and as done by the old meth
cd of seraper and pillow, the latter
left the roads in lumpy and un-
even condition, while the road ma
chimes left them perfectly smooth,
crowning from ditch to ditch. The
toughest road, when graded by
one of these machines, is LETT in
such a condition that horse could
be sent at full speed, following the
machine, without discomfort to the
horee or those riding in the vehicle
behind him. In the western coun-
try. where gravel cannot be had
and stone is very expensive, the
only hope of securing good roads
is in the adoption of these improv-
ed machines by the road districts.
If the people, whom these dele
gates represent, will credit the re-
ports made to them by the officers
sent for that purpose and act on
their recommendation, and buy
these machines, the improvement
in the roads OF this State within a
year will be a surprise to them
selves as we'll as all visiting US
from abroad. We are assured by
reliable persons, in other states
where the machines have been
introduced, that the roads can be
put in good condition by the use Of
these machines without increasing
the tax levy for road purposes, as
the work accomplished by the i'm
proved methods is so much greater
for the same amount of money that
the first cost Of the machine can
easily be paid out of the savings in
a very short time. The enhanced
value of the lands in counties where
the roads were put in good condi-
tion would run up into startling
figures, and the owners of land, if
they would consider this feature,
would not permit another year to
go by without having their road
district supplied with machines
capable of improving the roads to
the extent stated. The press has
taken much interest in the trial,
and in reporting the results of the
same, and will still aid in the dis
semination of information as to the
improved methods, and do its full
part in arousing public sentiment
to the necessity of adopting the
new machinery. We have hereto
fore published the reports CT the
committees appointed to decide as
to the relative merits OF the various
machines which were exhibited at
the trial here, but the reports are
of such a nature as to be somewhat
confusing, and we have been asked
to state what was the relative stand
ing of the machines. As the peo-
pie of the State are interested in
getting the best machine made for
this purpose, we may state that the
| finding of the committees classed
the machines as follows: First,
| Western; second, Austin +; third,
Fort Wayne fourth, King fifth,
Light Champion ; sixth, Mt. Pleas
ant.
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