The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1892-01-28
GOOD ROADS.

GOOD ROADS.
(From the "Gospel of Good Roads'')
VIII.
When l write to you about these
roads Of Europe I know that you are
apt to believe that these European
countries are more wealthy than ours;
that they are more thickly populated;
more thoroughly cultivated; and that
these splendid roads are built for the
accommodation of only those farmers
whose lands are highly cultivated; but
in this you are wrong. France is d.
vided into eighty-seven ''departments'
or political divisions, which, in many
respects. are not unlike our countries
In eighty-one of these eighty seven de-
partments the population per square
mile is less than that of the State Of
Rhode Island; in seventy eight it is
less than than the population per
square mile of Massachutts; in sixty
six it is less than that of New Jersey,
while if you take the combined area of
New York. Pennsylvania, Connecti-
cut. Massachusetts, Rhode Island aud
New Jersey it will appear that the av-
erage population per square mile of
these States exceeds that of seventy
out Of the eighty-s+vrn departments of
France. Many of these departments
in France are less populous than the
thickly settled counties in our western
States. but the uniform excellence Of
the roads is everywhere maintained.
Many years ago the French farmer
had the same method of making and
repairing the wagon roads that is fol-
lowed in you, county to-day. lie
quit farming for several days each
year and "worked out" his road tax.
Do you think he could be induced to
go back to the old style of doing things?
The road surface is smooth and dry;
the tall poplars on either side have
been trimmed to the upper branches so
as to let in the sun and air and hasten
the drying of the road after storm.
Then notice the heaps of broken stone
on each side of the road. These are
used by the workmen in making con.
stant repairs from day to day when
| ever the least imperfection appears.
In Belgium also the principal roads
are built and maintained by the general
government, and in 1880 in the nine
provinces of Belgium over 70 per cent.
of the higlroads were Of this class,
the entire length of high-class roads
being 4,l73 English miles, out of u
total Of i've thousand two hundred and
eighty six of roads of all classes. The
best roads of Belgium are in the pro-
vinces Of Namur, Liege and Luxem-
bourg, aud permanent employees art
kept on the roads under the direction
of the chief engineer Of the province,
for the purpose Of insuring the obser.
vance OF the regulations and looking
after the constant repair of the high.
ways.
In Baden the main roads are under
the supervision Of the State authori-
ties, and are cared for with q studious
regard for the requirements of the far
mer and inland travel. Under the
law relating to roads In Baden, the
duty of maintaining the road falls ne
follows: One quarter each upon the
parish (town) and district country in
which the road is situated. The re-
naming one-half upon the State treas
ury.
In Hesse- Darmstadt the roads art
divided into two classes, called State
roads and district roads, of which tht
former are direct care and charge
upon the general government, ant
when the district roads become 80 inn
portant as to require the attention o.
State officers, they can, under direction
of the district assembly (''Kreistag"
be declared State roads. Every dis
trict Is bound to appoint the necessar.
officials connected with the distric
roads. These official consist of ,
skilled person who must be capable o
flling the Office of district overseer AIT
! proper force of laborers requisite TO-
the work In hand. Annual sums sr'
allotted to each province out Of tn