The record-union., 1892-09-28
Dr.. Ripley's Plan for National
Highways--Jersey Roads.
A Stupid Policy-Progress of Caponiz-
fng-CaIifornia as a Fruit State
Mating for MISUNDERSTANDING Food
Before Fowls-Wfne Exports-Cali-
fornia Brandy-Sugar Beets-Mfscel-
laneouS Items.

making. The experiments made eight
or ten years ago in Essex County proved
so successful that an extension of the sys-
tenn was desired, and three years ago,
under the celebrated New Jersey road
law, Union County took up the work
and laid the famous Union County roads
that are now considered models of road
making. 1t was no small task to con-
vince the people of Union County that
100000 expended on roads would pay
them big return, and considerable talk
ing and writing were done before the
Union County Board of Freeholders took
the matter up and built the present sys-
tenn of roads.
The work of the advocates of the road
system has been helped materially in
New Jersey by the excellent object les
sons in roadmaking that had been given
for years previous TO the passage OF the
New Jersey road law by Chauncey u.
Ripley, LII. D., at Westfield, in Union
County. Fully impressed with the inn
portance of good roads in farming COM
munity, Mr.. Ripley was willing to ac-
cept what was considered as one OF the
humblest offices in the gift of the people,
that of Road Overseer, with the result
that six years ago the roads Of Westtieid
With the result of DR.. Ripley's Work in
Westfield before them, a long stride was
covered on the way for the Union County
roads, and now the Union County roads
are attracting the attention of other coun-
ties in the state, and other States in the
Union.
A few years ago, before the New Jersey
State Agricultural Board at rentOn, Dr..
Ripley advocated project for the build
ing OF two roads, the immensely OF which
almost made the agriculturists gasp tor
breath. 1t was for two great national
roads-one TO start at Jersey City and ter
inmate at the Bay of San Francisco; the
other to stretch from Chicago, in the
north, to Galveston, directly from the
great lakes to the Gulf of Mexico.
The doctor claims that such roads would
be of more Importance than railroads;
that the agricultural interest for twenty
five miles on each side Of such roads
would boom and be immensely bene
fitted. AS to the road itself, he thinks
100 feet would be good width from
fence to fence, with 10 feet on each side
laid out to sidewalk and 20 feet TO the
wagon way; OF this, 70 feet i'll the center
to be properly laid with stone on the Tel
ford Macadam plan, like the roads Of
Union County.
Where the principles of Telford and
Macadam are combined, the roadbed is
eXcavated TO a depth of twelve or sixteen
inches, and foundation stone, which are
large, broken stone are placed in by
hand; over this layer of coarse broken
stone is scattered and rolled with
heavy rollers until compact, then thin
dressing of clay is spread over and rolled.
Over the clay is spread the inch stone
that is, stone that falls through the meshes
OF a sieve an inch in diameter. These are
thoroughly rolled, and upon them is
spread the top dressing OF screenings,
which is sprInkled and rolled until hard
and compact.
A road put down in this way costs
about $4,000 per mile. The cost is regu-
lated somewhat by the distance it is nee
essary to transport the stone. A very
good road can be made at about half this
cost if the foundation stone is, of course,
crushed stone dumped in the excavation
instead of the large stone placed by hand,
but the road with the laid foundation is
not affected by frost or rain SO easily as
the other.
The doctor thinks that such roads
should be built by the National Govern
ment and be under its control, the same
as the military highways of the Old
World.
Apart from the two great national roads
DR.. Ripley is advocating the construction
in New Jersey of two roadS-one from
Sussex County to Cape May, and another
from Jersey City to Camden. The latter
would be the first section of the national
latitudinal road. The project of these
two roads is having serious consideration
in New Jersey, and the time may not be
far distant when they will be an accom-
plished fact.
DR.. Ripley says: "Our country was but
in it's infancy when the railroads sprang
up. We had not time TO construct wagon
roads or military roads like those in rsu-
rope. The old post roads were apologies
for roads, but never what they should
have been. Railroads have monopoliZed
the carrying, and we have been content
to let them have it. In the meantime our
wagon roads have been neglected so that
town not along line Of railway is iSo-
lated and stagnant through lack OF means
for easy communication with its neigh
borS. We have built up railroads at the
expense Of wagon roads, which are really
of as much importance. We must now
turn our attention to wagon roads and
give little of the benefits of our great
wealth to those who who use them. In
our agricultural interests rests the foun-
dation of our prosperity, and the farmers
call for good roads should not go I'M
needed
The building of the two roads would be
great undertaking, but none too great
for the greatest nation on the globe to I'M
dertake and put through to a successful
completion.
DIR. Ripley is being mentioned as one
of the National Road Commissioners un-
der the national highway bill, and if he
is on that commission his ideas concern
ing the national highways will undoubt-
edly receive full consideration.-Butfa
Times.
STUPID POLICY.
In selling thoroughbred fowls, as in
dealing in any kind of merchandise. il
pays, in the long run, TO be honest. Any
other policy is stupid one, because il
defeats the very purpose of the seller
who may fancy he is uncommonly sharp
in not doing as he agreed TO do. Pacific
Coast breeders have been very ready TO
accuse their Eastern brethren of cues
tionable dealings, but before looking for
the beam in Atlantic Coast poultrymen's
ewes, perhaps it would be we'll for some
of our far Western fanciers to examine
the mote in their own optics. For GER
tainly very promising foreign trade in
poultry has been seriously injured by the
short-sighted, If MOI actually dishonest,
policy of some California breeders in
Shipping inferior birds, sold at tiptop
prices, TO Japan, Australia, the Hawaiian
Islands, etc. Naturally, by right of loca-
ton If for no other reason, the bulk OF
this Pacific islands demand for thor
oughbred fowls should be supplied by
breeders here. 1t is no small egg of gold.
this trade, yet the bird that would have
continued to lay it has been well nigh
killed by those who should have done
their utmost to foster and protect it. We
are not aiming at any individual, but
simply stating a fact well-known to any
one at all acquainted with the trade in
question Not that many tine fowls have
not been exported from California to the
countries named. Inc stupid polcy OF
agreeing to fill an order with tirst-class
stock and them after the cash is securely
in hand. sending scrubs scarcely worth
the cost of transportation, has not, OF