The record-union., 1892-04-25

road construction, road plows, rollers,
stump extractors, apparatus for road
making, samples of ad-paving and tim
Der prepared to resist decay, one must
enter Department ''A," agricultural
building, and overhaul six classes in
these groups. For asphaltite and as
phaltic compounds. stones and granite
for bridge and building, mixtures
for surfaces and pavements, sleeves, rock
breakers, etc., one must go to the Build
ing of Mines and Mining to examine
seven classes in five groups.
So on for rollers, sweepers, sprinklers,
road-drainage, water conduits, road con-
struction, street and pavement work,
three other enormous buildings must be
visited and seventy-nine and three-tenths
acres ofspace travelled over, if one wishes
to examine devices for and examples of
street and road construction. Some of
these buildings are far apart, they will be
thronged with people and filled with tens
of thousands of exhibits.
The proper official of the fair was ad-
dressed upon the subject, and it was
pointed out that there ought to be de-
partment of road and street construction,
maintenance and machinery, in dis
tinct building, where or near by working
examples of road and street construction
could be constantly seen. To meet the
expense of such separate building and
department it was suggested that lovers
OF horses, builders of carriages and
wagons, agricultural societies and others
would contribute. for all interested i'm
mediately in good roads would find econ
omic considerations prompting them.
The official addressed replied, admit
ing the paramount Importance of such
department, and that the subject is one
that "is paralleled by no other material
interest that is now under such dense
cloud of ignorance" He believed that
such an exhibit is not possible sepa-
rately and as proposed, with road-work-
ing and construction examples upon the
roadways of the grounds, because there
is now no opportunity to provide house
for the exhibit, while the roadways of the
grounds Nave all been provided to be
finished and kept complete. He added
that it is true that as now arranged the
fair will not have in it the needed lesson
how to build good and cheap country
roads, and that the exhibits as provided
for in the catalogue will relate mainly to
costly roads in the vicinity of large cities.
He added that there might, however, be
gathered statistics in great variety and
elaboration, diagrams and photographs
of good and bad roads at home and
abroad, and printed matter for distribu-
ton upon the subject of road-making,
substructure, bridging, surfacing, drain
age and pavemenus in all variety.
All the facts and the letter have been
published, with calls upon the people di-
rectly interested to aid in getting the pro-
posed department into shape and having
the proper building put up, years time
being ample to do it. But the idea of
asking the people now to make special
contribution of coin to secure such an ex-
hibition at the fair is embarrassing and
huniliating. The subject is of such
transcendent Importance that it ought to
be provided for in the general scheme of
the exposition, and that it was over
looked is not creditable, for it was moth
ing less than oversight that scattered road
exhibits-many of which relate to other
departments also-and failed to provide
for a distinct road department.. 1t is
proposed to memorialize Congress con-
corning the matter, but aid from that di-
rection must be a matter of doubt. The
builders of carriages and wagons in the
United States might, however, well afford
to put up the greater part of the sum
needed, for the building needs to be but
simple and spacious, if the directory of
the fair cannot now provide accommoda-
tions for the purpose in a separate or de-
partmental structure.
The outdoor space for working ex-
amples it can and probably will provide,
but not the working force to illustrate the
various systems of road and street-mak-
ing. The builders of vehicles have an
immediate interest in the matter; every
mile of good new road built and main
tanned adds to the volume of their busi-
ness. Agricultural societies having treas
uries with surplus cannot do greater
service to the farmer than by expenditure
to bring about reform in road-building,
and comprehensive exhibit is in that
line. There are. in short, interests suffi-
the working examples and their mainte-
nance-but whether they can be relied
upon to do more is a question of much
doubt. Of this we are convinced-that
no department Of great fairshas more
direct or important relation TO the rural
interests of the country than one devoted
to roads and highways.
THE Kern County Echo, in considering
the proposition broached in San Fran
cisco, to build new railroad eastward,
remarks: People are beginning to dis
cover that multitude of parallel rail-
roads is not the greatest blessing that a
country can enjoy. One road between
rivan noints is hetfer than three if the