The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-05-22
GOSPEL OF GOOD ROADS.
NON TO TMPROrE THOSE We USE.
Suggestions for Those Who Have the spunk
80 Raise Voice Against Old Methods.
Science Va. Ignorance and Mud.

In spite of the wonderful commercial and
industrial progress of the United States we
are still, to a large extent, using tho same
soft, dusty, muddy country roads that served
for our remote ancestors.
The main thing is TO secure practical de-
monstration by examples Of durable and solid
roads. When such roads can be found In
every county the farmers Will very soon con-
vert their opposition into an urgent demand
for the universal extension Of such highways.
For time the farmers, who are the class
most interested in the condition of country
roads, were inclined to feel annoyance at the
agitation in favor Of improvement Of roads
which has sprung up. They suspected That
IL was merely a demand from dudes on
bicycles. But the farmers are coming to per-
ceiye, we think, that their own welfare Is As
much concerned in good roads As the pleasure
or profit OF any class Of city residents. Inc
question 10 on" OF travel and traffic between
town and country and between different paris
OF the country. TO make this traffic and ms
travel more easy is 10 benent the nation
materially, socially and Intellectually, the
rural population included.
Good roads mean good business and good
homes. The weekly trade reports OF Dun ana
BTadstreet and others regard the weather and
IFS effect upon roads as one Of the great tao
tors in distribution. II the soft roads are
sticky the farmers do not arrive 10 market.
It's simple matter for each individual lar
mer: but If half "A million or a million far
mers are Affected by the same cause, II IS q
very serious matter for business.
GOOD ROADS AND now TO GET THEM.
Philip snyder, Of Duchess county, New
York, in writing to the Country Gentlemen,
gives history of fight for good roads, which
has, no doubt been duplicated IN part III
many localities in Virginia, and by when
some who now have the spunk 10 raise voice
against tie old methods may ind some naeiJi
suggestions. He says:
Probably in no one thing are Americans so
far behind Europeans as in the character OF
their common roads. We boast of our free
dom. but IN respect to roads there has Deeh
10 mucn freedom. The freedom allowed Tue
country people a. 20 roads has been abused
and the roads are simply d,sgraceiul bul
/ tuer are pretty fair specimens OIL tue enter
PRISE of farmers when left 10 40 as lhey piehee,
ana they are not likely 10 be- mucn better unih
me general system under wnic1 TIE ROADS are
worked is overturned.
Tie question OF Il change Of system tor
! which provision was made M this state some
/ wears ago. was submitted 10 the voters Vl iii}
/ town M l>>S. and voted down more IMAM io.I
/ 90 one GEO 10 3e3) NhiIe nall tue voters didh
/ vote AT alas Is usually the case Oh que9'
/ lions that require thought and nice disciilnl-
/ nation. And vet TINS town has. probably,
| more rich men in it. with summer homes
/ tnan almost any rural town ln the STATE.
They did not oppose the cDAn1e, but mo7t
/ were ind nercnt. whiieihe farmers, rearing AN
! increased cash taxes went pell-mell against
a. Iapv do not object 10 good roads. but TO
paving for them, preierung the antiquaieo
| httle district system ln winch each man
| "work5 0ut' his road tax near home by lean
! iue ON bis hoe handle and telling o. listening
| ITO stories.
In one respect. hoWeyeg. it should be stated
/ that our slow town n3h advanced thoush the
+ tanners cannot generally De t1ahhti lot IL.
4 st0ne-cru,hel. costing 81 80, Was pul chased
! about four years ago, ana S-.UOl mas anhu"iiE
! been aised since 10 eXpend ~ running IL aud
applying crushed stone 10 the most Travelled
road in the town. But there was sharp
/ struggle over the purchase Of the cIusner,
and only the votes Of a large contingent OF
village people paying little OF no taxes, WIN
some WHO wanted work, enabled the trends OIL
/ improvement to triumph. even then II sue
ceeded by only four majority. inquire so small
that The supervisor declined 10 risk his pOpu-
larty by a purchase. and so took 10 the
woods" for a year. Inc next spring the hght
was renewed, That super VISOR was retired ana
the clusner project again carried by about the
same majority. Then it was purchased. The
appropriation for crushed stone each year has
since been voted annually, though IN the face
OF "A strong opposition from the farmers, and
probably would nave failed but for the village
and laDOrng people, some OF WAOm wanted
work.
Now that we have a commissioner who
has public confidence and with three miles OF
road covered with crushed stone 10 serve As
nm ~ Hfrh F4I4QY4e ba
characic. OF arOad which formerly was almost
impossible during tue first upheayals OF fall
and spring, the opposition 10 an annual
appropriation for the crusher viii probably
diminish.
For permanent roads COOL at all seasons,
people here are well satisfied that crushed
stone is The remedy. Nothing fills the bin 80
we'll For a road with only moderate travel
over IT, coarse gravel may DO, but NOT other
Wise. Even crushed stone does not free the
road from a thin coating Of mud in rainy
weather, but IL is hardly deep enough 10
measure, is carried 20 the gutter Dy each
heavy RAIN and the road is dry IN a short time
after the rain ceases. As 10 smOOthness, II Is
about perfect, and is not Affected by freezing
and thaWlng. There II, Of course, choice IN
me quality of the stone, and limestone or
bluest0ne is best. SOFT slate VIII not dO, as II
soon wears out and makes dust and mud.
CObblesiOues would do well, aller c. ushng,
for a rOad-bed, or Tor tse top, II broken qulIe
small, bat rock is cheaper 10 get, as The
crusher can be set by the side OF ledge
which may last months or years without
moving, while 'cObDles' would be expensive
10 collect, as well as hard to crush.
Rocks and stones are abundant and accessi-
be generally, except OH prarIes and IA sandy
localities, and the best use 10 make of them
is in road making. nmany places, especially
between hills and turOugb swanpy tracts.
they can be used IN great quantities for en-
bankments on which the roads are 10 rest.
something like a level grade can be secured in
this way, and then, ballasted with crushed
stone, il would be the end Of bad roads.
Mr.. Isaac Is. Potter in tue Gospel of Good
Roads, would apply scientific principles TO
road making. He says:
SCIENCE IL ROAD NAMING.
have heard American farmers say that
they were opposed to having public roads put
in charge of civil engi leers; that they had no
desire to be "scentiic,' and were opposed
10 scientific management of tue public
roads. / think / have heard you say this.
Let me tell YOU, in the most friendly way in
the world, that you could not, 10 save your
soul, help being scientific. You are scientific !
when you paint your house, put tallOw on
your boots grease on your wagon axle, hone /
Lfu4L4 hama t4mtf.fa