Mexico weekly ledger., 1891-12-31
The Read Machine Contest, and Pub
lie Road Question.

The Read Machine Contest, and Pub
lie Road Question.
1t was scarcely expected by those
present most interested in promot
ing theugeneral Improvement Of the
Public Roads that the public trial
Of Road Machines held at Mexico,
September last. would arouse in all
parts OF the state such great In-
terest In the subject as is now ap-
parent. The State Board of Agri-
culture hoped for such a result,
when inviting the contest, but it
may we'll be doubted whether they
really expected their efforts to be
rewarded so speedily.
The machines were put to the
severest tests and executed all the
various kinds OF Road work to be
done on country roads in manner
to astonish all present who had not
before been familiar with their
work. The completed roads were
in the best possible condition for
travel and durability, considering
quality of ma erial of which they
were composed. The cost was less
than twenty per cent. of making
with plows and scrapers the lumpy
uneven abomination so familiar 'to
all. While most of the machines
required some repairs during the
three days severe work, the West
ern Reversible, made at Aurora
Illinois, which was awarded first
place by the committee, did all the
work allotted to it from start tG
finish without a break.
On account of the expense, gravel
and Maeadan Roads are be, ond oui
immediate reach and the only hope
of securing good roads as can be
made without the permanent MA.
terial is i'll the adoption of the Road
Machines tor tnrnpiking and
smoothing the earth roads and the
wheeled scrapers for grading down
hills and : filling in hollows, and
about culverts and bridges.
The earth roads by the use of the
improved machines can BE- put ii,
condition to afford vehicle passage
and to make driving a pleasure ten
months in the year. The great
saving effected by them will enable
an ordinary Road District to pur-
chase one OF the best Of these ma
chimes aud grade every road in the
District in first-class shape within
four years without increasing the
average taxes now levied for Road
purposes. This, we are reliably in-
formed, has been demonstrated in
sections of neighboring states where
the conditions are similar. The in
creased value of lands arising from
the improvement of the Roads would
add millions OF dollars to the wealth
or the state, while the lessening of
the expense of marketing the pro-
ducts of the farms, the saving in re-
pair of vehicles, and on account of
the reduced number of draft ami
mails consequent upon their increas-
I'd powers would add many other
millions annually to the profits of
the farmers.
We believe the delegates sent
from the many counties of the state
and witnessing the trial are con-
vinced of these facts and that their
constituents will adopt and supply
each Road District with the best of
the improved machines and wheeled
scrapers shown at the trial, if they
credit the report of their delegates
and act On their recommendations.
As the road work is to be done BY
the improved machinery, the people
are interested in securing the best.
One thing to be avoided is the pur-
chase of machine which may be so
complicated as to create the i'm
preston that no one but a trained
expert can work it, or so hard on
the operator, as to make the place
undesirable, or so frail as to be con
tinually out of repair. In either
case it results in the machine not
being used. We think all un-
prejudiced persons, who witnessed
the trial, will agree with the COM
nlttee who awarded the first place
to the Western Reversible, all steel
Road Machine, that it proved itself
the simplest, easiest operated and
ost durable and best adapted to all
kinds of road work. The operator
of the Western. throughout the
trial apparently had an easy job and
unlike the others, wore his best
Sunday suit, without any protection
IN the way of overalls, which was
not solled, and the machine-as we
said before-showed no break OF
strain, which we think cannot be
said of any other machine in the
trial.
1t is made by the Western Wheel.
ed Scraper company, OF Aurora
Illinois, who are also the manufac.
turers of the Wheeled Seraper.
shown here at the time of the tria
aud in use by all Grading Contrac.
tors on Railroad construction anc
which has largely reduced the cos
of Grading Railroads since the in.
PRODUCTION.
BY exercising care in selecting a
machine that will please the peopl,
who operate it they will be unani
nous in its favor and volunt e
sufficient labor to insure good roads