Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-09-24
Country Roads.
| Maine Farmer.l

Maine Farmer.l
The attractions of Maine are not to
he found in any one locality or sec
ton. This is the one feature that
holds the attention of the traveller. Go
whorc one will, new beauties are
70 DE seen. The mirror of nature is
constantly presenting some fresh com
blnation of shades. and picture of
surprising loneliness can at any time
be seen from the hilltops along the
highway, At the same time, it may
seriously be questioned whether the
view is not marred, and the effect in-
cured, by want of attention to what
some might consider of minor import
ance. There is no way in which the
attractions may be increased 80 easily
as by little better attention to the
roads and loadsdes. Good road beds.
smooth and bard. free from stamps,
stouts and logs. will always be appre-
clated, and the town will be measured.
by the traveller, 10y the general con
dltlon Of the highways, the guide
boards at the corners. aud the school
houses. lf these Ne we'll kept, the i'm
preston will he conveyed that the
town IS prosperous. and the inhahi-
tants coniented. No matter how fine
the dwellings,. if these hc neglected
nothing can satisfy the stranger that
the town is progressive and the clti-
zens happy. 1t is net question of
accurate Judgment, bu, Of first i'm
presslons. and these as rulc are en-
during
Maine. a a summer resort. is being
doomed by the Tar seeing business
men IN every way possible. The
Grand Trunk liue running through
the state. which is cmphatically a
Name road. is spcndiu. thousands
yearly 10 setting forth. in convincing
manner, The attractions of the State.
20 be found in every section. This i
not enough. There i something for
tue people to do. not only tor their
o"n comfort and protection, but to
seal the story told the outside public.
10y giving more attention to the high
ways aud keeping them in better re-
pair. ndcr the laws Of the State
these must he in safe condition tor
the traveller, hut in some towns il is
evident there Is n Very imperfect APP
probation of what is Intended to be
covered by the term safe Ii road
Is III such shape that one can walk a
horse without danger 70 life and limb.
it is cons ideted enough Tile thought,
OF comfort TO the stranger passing
over the country road does not seem
TO enter in at all.
For Just this reason some Of the
most attractive spots in Maine are
passed over and neglected. There
are towns where. if the highways were
kept in iirst-class cordltion. the city
residents and travellers would flock in
numbers, bat now. because they are
only good enough" which means
simply passable, they repel instead of
attract. There is no call for large
increase Of expenditure, but rather a
wise distribution of the amount now
appropriated, aud the well doing Of
whatever is attempted, The policy
OF killing time while working taxes on
the highway. will explain why SO
many poor roads are to b found. Men
who recognize the natural advantages
OF town Or section. must see to il that
these are brought within the reach of
the summer tourist by inviting roads
and roadways. Not only should there
be smooth, hard road bed, we'll
turned to Shed water. but the bitches
and road side. ought to he cleared Of
all waste material If it be charged
that this means more labor, Their sure
Is the answer is that ont OF this there
is sure 10 come increased revenue to
the town by the incoming OF those who
seek for pleasant drives in desirable
localities, where they may spend their
summer months.
Not alone along the seashore or at
the mountains should we find the tour
ist, hut because of the grand variety
Of scenery, lakes, rivers, ponds, hills
and valleys. scattered all over Maine.
Every village should attract, and
would. if by attention to some of these
little things the traveller be drawn to
the spots where the beauty Of nature
may best be seen. A penny wise and
pound foolish system prevails in far
too many localities, which drives away
and does not call III. Even some of
our larger towns and cities fail right
here. and because the streets and sur
roundlngs are not attractive and com
Portable. lose what would otherwise
be of great value. Good roads with
pleasing roadsdes will be found to be
one of the best investments possible
for town or city, and one which will
increase in value year by year. Aside
from all benefit to be derived bv the
residents, the pecuniary advantages
of having well kept roads are sufficient
TO warrant calling attention to sub
iect now too much neglected