St. Paul daily globe., 1892-03-13
THE GOOD ROADS GOSPEL.

Since the railroads have been doing
most of the heavy work of the wagon
roads of the earlier time the condition
of the latter has had less attention. The
machinery provided for their construc-
tion and improvementyhas not been dis
carded, but it has been extremely inef-
fectiye. Good roads in the country at
all seasons are so rare that those so
fortunate as to have them picture them
as great attractions. OF late, however,
the subject is attracting more attention,
and there is somewhat earnest, If spo-
radio, effort to develop an impression
that they afford one of the great def
ciencieS of this part of the world. The
bicycle rider, who is becoming numerous
and ubiquitous, is becoming an evangelist
to proclaim the gospel of good roads.
Some of them have been over to Eng
land and the continent, and taken tours
on the wheel that have persuaded them
that there is no inherent need of the
contrast they find with the land of their
nativity and general pride. The League
of Wheelmen has recently issued
pamphlet on the subject. comparing the
American and European roads. In ad-
dition to description. series OF photo
graphs is given, showing the highways
in England, Ireland and France. These
suggest the asphalt payements in some
of the residence sections of ST. Paul.
Not much intimation is found IN
them of the average streets in the
business districts of most cities.
These wheel riders are not with
out selfish interest i'll having a
good roads boom, but their arguments
have general value. The inquiry is
made, "What is the commercial value of
these high-priced roads?" In response
the wheel-riders say: lit is di1ficnlt to
estimate 1t; and were we told we could
scarcely believe. The nimble- -witted
Frenchman spends $lS,000,000 per year
to keep his roads in good repair.
He will tell you the reason for this in
two words-'it pays He knows that
a horse can draw twice as much load on
the surface of macadamized road as
upon dirt road in its best condition;
four times as much as when the dirt road
is in its average state, and ten times as
much as when the dirt road is turned to
mud by the rains Of fall and spring. He
will tell you that good roads will in
crease the value of your farm; shorten
the distance to market; save time,
wagons, harnesses, horses; enlarge the
territory which contributes to the home
market; quicken social communication,
and add to the wealth OF the individual
and the state. The American farmer
will doubt. but the Frenchman knows;
he has tried both ways"
OF course it is not possible to have
macadamiZed roads at present in the
thinly settled districts of this country,
but it is we'll to learn how the people
over The water perfect their highways.
Good work is being done by the wheel
men in ditfusing information as to how
good roads may be built, and their eco
nomic value. a farm that is reached by
a solid, smooth road, that Is rarely if
ever difficult Of passage, will sell for
several dollars per acre more than the
one that has bad roads, nearly lmpaSSa-
BILE in wet periods. This pamphlet does
not afford all the information desirable
in practical details, but generalizes in a
useful way. One of the provisions in
the old countries for the preservation of
roads is to regulate the width of wagon
tires. In Bavaria the government i'm
poses this regulation:
Width of Tire
Two wheel wagon. two horses .........4 in.
Two-wheei wagon. three or four horses.6 in.
Four wheel wagon, two horses 2l2 in.
Four-wheel wagon, four horses. .......4 in.
Four-wheel wagon, five to eight horses in.
Only by special permits are carts al
lowed with more than four horses or
wagons with more than eight. The
wide tires have clumsy and awkward
look, but they save the road. The mar
rover ones make the deep ruts and
spoil the roads. A good road boom in
this country may be viewed with no
alarm.