The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-04-24
THE MOVEMENT FOR BETTER
ROADS.
A Lecture Delivered by State Sen
ator John S. Writ, at Rising Sun,
April 18th, Under the Aus
pices of the Friends
Normal Institute.
+ eoNcLuDED.l

cohciuue tuat lax Wnich Is eApenueu
in making a road 10 your neighborhood, ,
which is in good condition all the year
around, is good Investment.
When we consider that the cereals
alone raised in this country annually
exceed three thousand millions Of bush
els, and that all this immense product,
together with the other produce Of the
farm. is hauled over the country high.
ways TO the mill, the railway station or
the wharf, we catch 4 glimpse Of the
great Importance of the question.
When we compare the farmers high.
way with the railroad, we see one to be
slipshod and wasteful in the construc-
tion and maintenance, while the other
employs the best and most scientific
methods. Then it is we begin to see
why it is that locomotive can haul o
ton Of wheat a mile cheaper than farm.
er can haul bushel the same distance.
When we speak Of permanent road
we do not mean the mere dumping of
stones in the mudholes, but the con-
struction Of road upon approved
methods, with smooth surface, and
properly graded and drained. One SO
constructed requires very little expen-
diture for repairs, if mended in season
under the continuous repair system Used
in the maintenance OF railways.
Let me give you an example of tie
economy Of such road to those who
haul over them, taken from an interest
ing essay by Clement Hcrschel, publish
ed by the League of American Wheel.
men. Suppose We have truck
weighing with the load, 5000 pounds
How many pounds traction will be re-
.quired to move the same? The answer
is as follows: On firm soil, gravel 4 to
6 inches deep, that is newly repaired
road, as we'often find it, 1000 pounds !;
on the best kind of an embankment
BOB pounds /; ON broken stone road
in good condition 1865 pounds; on
broken stone, deep ruts and mud 643
pounds on good pavement 1885
pounds; or since the traction force of a
medium horse when working all day is
said to be about l25 pounds, we need
in the first case, 8 horses 10 the second
case, q horses; in the third case, about
/ 4 horses; in the fourth case, about 5
horses and in the fifth case, only one
good horse to move the entire load all:
day.
In other words upon broken stone
road IN good condition in this neighbor.
hood for several months in the year one
pair of horses could do more drawing
than team of eight horses upon our
dirt rsads full of mud and ruts. Which
is better and cheaper to maintain, good
roads or lot of poor horses?
The above illustrations are merely
used to show the economical aspect of
the question, and it is not my intention
to go into the details of road construc-
ton and road mending.
We shall never be able in this gene
ration to equal the magnificent road
ways Of Continental Europe, where in
some countries they are swept every
day and kept free from dust and mud.
The seven bundled miles of roadways
in Cecil county must continue to be for
the most part dirt roads, but we must
change our methods of maintenance
from the hand to mouth system, to an
intelligent and econcmica. system. Il
cannot be too much insisted upon that
money spent upon the roads by the
county at improper seasons, is a waste
In many parts Of the county a dirt
road properly repaired and drained will
be fairly good during nine months of the
year. Most of the repairs upon such
roads should be done as early in the
spring as is practicable, but l think the
continuous repair system. such as rail-
roads use in the maintenance of their
railways, is cheaper in the long run.
The roads should be mended in the
spring, and whenever they need it
during the following months. You will
notice on the highways of this county
innumerable small wooden culverts
which need constant renewal. Would
it not be desirable to build these of
more permanent material?
These changes in methods under the
supervision of a competent Engineer,
would result in great improvement in
our highways, the incidental effects Of
which would benefit every individual in
the community.
The chief permanent benefit from the
expenditure of the hundreds of ihous-