Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-14
weapons which they afford in the hands OF
mobs dnring periods Of riot.
NO PAM mr. rHr svSrrN xrat rcrrn

weapons which they afford in the hands Of
mobs during periods Of riot
No PART OF THE SYSTEM NEGLECTED.
No part OF the road system il neglected: She
Routes are divided into sections OF half mile
TO three miles in length, according TO the i'm
portance OF the road each OF which Is con-
nced TO man or number OF men, 80 thstevery
loot OF the roadway 10 inspected daily and Is
Kept in thorough repair.
But France has suffered by her greatness in
this respect When the Prussian forces crossed
tne ironthr In $50 the fine military roads
were found more advantageous 60 the invaders
than the invaded. The enemy profited by the
master mas Work OF their aggressive neighbors-
Inc roads afforded not only direct but ex-
eeiient routes to the French capital The high
ways OF France are remarkable for their dura-
eiity, eSenness and cleanliness. They are
swept and watered every day aad kept in
scr9pulous order. They are immense garden
paths, amid marvellous landscape OF yerdure
and cultivation.
Louis NV had several fine roads made in
the environs OF Paris for his personal use and
pleasure They were very wide. probaSl. 80
laid out from simple ostentation aud paved
only in the center for the royal coaches
Shortly after the construction Of these royal
roads the nation began to appreciate the adj
vantage OF paved WAYS, as the use Of vehicles
was becoming more general. and the commence
ment was then begun by the French people OF
the magnificent network Of public roads new
TO be seen covering the whole Of France and
not equaled by any other country in the
world. The roads of Louis NV were made for
the king by the peasants. At the present time
they are for the peasants by means OF subsidies
and heavy taxes exacted from the government
and the public.
GERMAN rURNPIKEs-
In respect to construction the German road
making is identical with that OF France and
Switzerland. Every important road is a
graded macsdamized turnpike. with culverts
OF massive stone. bitches on either side and
generally lined with trees either poplar, syca-
more or linden. The general principle which
obtained In Saxony formerly was that the OBJ
legation Of keeping up the roads depended on
| the levying OF toll and safeguard duty on them.
| Ihls species OF toll was called because IN
| FORMER times travellers passing over insecure
| roads leading through forests or thinly settled
districts were escorted by armed knights, who
levied this safeguard duty in return for their
| services.
| RUSSIAN ROADS BADLY BUILT.
Russian highways are as a rule badly bull,
and continually in process Of mending. When
Alexander Dumas returned from Russia. which
he had been visiting he was asked how he liked
the roads in that country. lie replied: Il
never saw any. In winter they were covered
win snow and In summer they were always be-
ing repaired"
In no country in the world is the construc.
| ton OF roadways carried out with more scieu.
titic skill and thoroughness than In switzer.
lano. Ihe mountainous nature of the country
tne consequent dlhiculty Of providing mean,
oil easy communication between points and TIT
severe tests 10 which roads are subjected b.
me violence OF storms and the sudden swelling
OF water courses have from the earliest period
rendered the subject of road building one ot
primary Importance to the dwellers in the Alps
Ihe modern roadways of Switzerland aud O,
Europe generally originated with the Romar
engineers IN the last century before Christ
constructed In the first instance for the marcel
OF armies and the postal service of the empire
they were promptly occupied by the tributary
commerce which poured into Italy with aug
mented volume as the dimensions of the EN-
pre- Increased. In the breaking up Of societ,
which followed the invasion Of the barbarian
and the fall of the empire. the Roman roads. al
though In continued use, fell ont OF repair ans
finally into ruin.
HEDGE-LISED ROADS OF ENGLAND.
One OF the greatest charms of English scener,
to the American visitor is the beauty of il
hedge-lined, stone-bedded roads Much. Q
England's scenery would be nothina witbou
them The country roads Ia 1Fsisud suffs
materially from comparisons16<4a the roatss
England and Wales. but as sol69ared with til
average country road in the United States the
seem to approximate closely to perfection
: The course described by the country roads i
ireland is most irregular and even tortuou,
/ the apparent purpose being to avoid the point
of the compass, but they are none the Les
beautiful on that account.
2 In South America there are hardly any road
| worthy of the name. Communication betwee
towns where there are no railways to the in
terror Is by water in small boats or canoes. o
by bride paths on donkeys, mules or horse
l back. To go in carriage of any description
five, ten, twenty, forty any number of miles
Few or many. into the interior. is a thing IN
heard of and unknown. In Brazil thirty day
are often required for travelling distance .
: $50 miles.
SCIENTIFIC ROAD BUILDING IN JAPAN.
The subject Of scientific road building
Japan is one that has only of recent years n
: ceived attention. Previous TO the opening ,
: | the country to foreign intercourse nearly a
4. | OF the inland travel and carrying was confine
= to the backs Of coolies and pack horses, and
u | spite OF the introduction OF railways an
a jinrikishas such is, to a very great extent, sti
a the case.
In Fiji there are no roads thsff deserve o.
!. | name. Each msgisterial district Is at preseY
a making a dirt road by cutting two paral
= bitches and throwing the dirt from them b,
4 tween the two, more to employ prison labC
= | than to build roads for traffic or pleasure. II
main streets of the cities are made of broke
o coral washed up by the sea, which is a yer
. good material for the purpose, but not vel
. lasting. The traffic of the islands is all dor
n by water; consequently roads are not Requires