Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1892-07-08
From the West Virginia Farm Bulletin.l
"Extravagance OF Mud"

I; IS q satisfaction to note that the farm
ers and the thinking public generally
are becoming daily more interested in
the improvement of the public roads.
BY looking over the reports of the de-
partments of agriculture of many States,
we notice that road-making is receiving
far more attention than formerly. At
farmers institutes and at the meetings Of
all farmers organizations, the extrava-
gance of mud roads is being discussed
and efforts are being made in many
States for the improvement and uiainte-
nance of the public highways upon more
scientific principles. Many public jour
nails throughout the country are giving
attention to the subject, rs is evidenced
by the following which we deem proper
to quote from lengthy article published
in the Century Magazine:
I'VE have in the United States some
thing like 10, ,ooo, 600 of horses and mules
above the age OF two years upon our
farms. and at the moderate estimate OF
IS cents rs the cost OF feed and care OF
each OF these animals. we sec n glance
that the aggregate expense of maintain
ing them is about 100000 per day.
If, by similarly moderate estimate, We
say that they are kept in \ stable IN a
condition of enforced idleneSS by the
deep mud of spring and fall for period
averaging 10 days i'll each year, we may
easily compute that the loss, in this re-
spect alone, will amount TO $50, ,ono
per year, a sum sufficient 10 build 10000
miles of excellent highway. OF course,
considering the great variety of condi-
tions and the consequent number of
factors 10 bc regarded, it is impossible
by mathematical formula 10 compute tile
loss cntailcd on any community by the
continued liberation of these dirt roads
i'll their present condition but the error
in the result OF any computation is more
likely To show loss smaller than actu-
ally exists, and in whatever way the
matter may he regarded, IL is certain
that with the imposed burden of extra
help and extra dram animals, loss of
time, wear and tear OF wagons and har-
ness, the drawing OF light loads, and
the deprecated value Of farm lands. We
are pursuing short.sighted policy IN
permitting the present system to con-
tinuo. Besides thu actual loss, which
moments reflection will serve 10 show,
We are gaining nothing and saving moth
ing in that great department OF agricrl-
tural industry to which the condition OF
the dirt road is Of such marked impor-
tancc.
"By dwellers in cities tho actual con-
dition Of these country roads during the
wet season is scarcely known; while the
farmers, TO whom all roads ared roads,
and who have never seen nor known Of
A highway better than that which they
have used from boyhood, the dirt road
is an accepted fixture, which long habit
and use have impressed upon them rs
natural and necessary adjunct to farm
life. In the spring Of 1891
in the State OF New York the coun-
try newspapers were printing long odi-
torial complaints Of the hopeless eondi-
ton OF the rural highways, and the con
sequent paralysis Of country trade, while
commercial reports were published from
week to week in which business einbar-
rassments and failures were charged di-
rectly TO the impassablc condition ofhe
country roads. Halfloaded farm-wag-
onS were stalled in deep mud almost III
the shadow ofthe magnificent !2o,ooo,ooo
capital at Albany. while, As II TO show to
what ridiculous ends the perversity Of
the human mind will sometimes lead 40,
the good farmers Of Albany county were
actually sending kilograms to the Legs
lature asking for the Adjournment OF
committee hearing, because the roads OF
Albany county were too bad to permit
them to get to town in time TO opposa
bill which promised 70 make them bet
teri
The same writer explains the systssn
under which the public roads OF France
are maintained, and attributes the great
national prosperity Of that country to
the excellent condition in which these
roads are kept, under the supervision Of
practical engineers. We feel that the
farmers Of no other State should bsmore
interested in the improvement Of The
public highways than the farmers Of
West Virginia. We arc not prepared TO
say that our public roads arc worse than
in many States, but in answer TO ques-
tons sent ont for Bulletin issued June :,
as 10 the condition OF the public roads,
and number Of miles OF macadamized
road OF turnpike in each county, the re-
| porters from "a counties reported roads
very bad counties reported fair or
medium - counties reported good,
while Ohio county was tie only county
in the whole State that reported roads In
very good condition. These reports
we're sent in at time Of the year when
all roads had somewhat improved or re-
covered from the effects Of freezing or
wet weather during winter and early
spring. In reporting the number Of
miles Of turnpike, ga counties report no
turnpike whatever, while there s re-
ported for Berkeley n miles; Brooke. ~
miles; Gresnbrisr, only miles; Hamp-
shise. 50 miles, poorly kept up; Hsrri-
son, IS; Jefferson, 20; Kanavha, So
Marion, IS; karshall. 10; Aonongaiia,
8; Nicholas, 76; Ohio, IS; Pocahontas,
IS; Preston, 10; Roane, 20; Ritchie, IS;
/ prawlox 3e sud ITsaduf fr futfea maxi