Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1892-04-08
Sarn Copies.
GOOD ROADS IN THE COUNTRY.

expense, tnat is, the cheapest rOau III une
end, is Just now being much discussed
throughout the country. And the ques-
ton seems as far from being settled as
ever, as there is such a variety of opin-
ions concerning 1t. Next to poor crops
nothing affects business and trade so
much as poor roads. 1t Is not to be de-
MED that the farmers of United States
are the basis of general business. a
year or more of poor crops is always fol-
lowed by a business depression in the
larger towns and cities. And why is
this? Simply because business men and
those engaged IN trade depend directly
or indirectly upon the farmers for the
support of their business. Now poor
roads affect local business and markets
just as crop failure affects the city
trade.
A farmer will market his produce, pur-
chase his provisions and agricultural i'm
plements and get his work done, other
things being equal, at the town or city
toward which he will find the best roads.
And, even there, there is a business lull
during the bad weather of the year,
which plays such havoc with our tempo
rary roads. The census of 1890 gives
nearly three millions of farmers in the
United States. A great proportion of these
farmers do not live in or near towns
and villages, but out in the country,
two, three or more miles, and are oblig-
ed to drive to the railroad station, to
church, to the post-office and stores.
1t is taken for granted by city people
that the population of the country is
made up principally of farmers. And it
is so to considerable extent. But there
are thousands of country merchants, doc
tors, tradesmen, etc, who live in the
country villages and depend almost alto
gether upon the farmer. OF course
teamsters, doctors, ETC., who are obliged
to be on the road nearly all the time are
directly interested in them. Besides all
this business advantage, how much great
er are the social advantages to all in a
community of good roads. So whether
person is receiving the benefit of a
good road or the detriment of bad, di-
rectly or indirectly, he ought to realize
it enough to be interested and to show
his interest by his ballot. Legislation
has much to do with road making, and
of course the fundamental changes in
highway affairs are made by the legisla-
ture.
! The laws vary considerable in the diff
ferent States, but much of that upon
which good roads depends is left optional
with local municipalities. Great care
should be taken in choosing a road COM
missioner ana satisfactory commission
er, once chosen, should be kept in office
long enough to be of some benefit to the
public. The views of a candidate for
commissioner upon highway affairs
should be as well understood by those
supporting him as are those of sena-
tor or representative upon State or ma
tional issues. And it is the "road pol
tiles" of a candidate which should elect
or defeat him, and not the man alone.
Too often commissioners are elected by
political friends, simply to give him his
turn at politics. And generally all he
has time to do, before he makes way fol
one preceding him has done, whose
views differed entirely from his own
and begin his own method, only to have
it torn out in turn by the next commits
sioner. Now, Just what demands mus
a road meet to be satisfactory and adapt
ed to its uses: Then, what kind of ma
terial is the best TO construct such ;
road? The nearest perfect country roat
would be somewhat like this: A roao
that is well drained and comparatively
dry throughout the year; a road that
will not settle to a level with the sur
face in a few years after being built o
repaired; road smooth and har,
enough to make easy draft, but yieldin;
enough not to damage horse driver
over it, for we all know how tn
rock surface roads of the cities affect
horses football this, together will
durability. But with so great pro
portion of roads to the population "A
there Is in the country, such roa
everywhere would be well nigh an in
possibility. There should be first-clas
roads connecting villages and town
,, with each other and with cities, count
> seats, etc. How much better 1t woul
be for people living short distance oi
: such road to have their road tax eS
pended upon permanent road, even
the roads from their homes to the mai
road are not in a prime condition, tina
to spread road tax all over a town O
county, using the funds in Temporal
repairs and patching up. Most of tn
New England roads were never systt
matically built, but were made owe
from old paths and trails by filling u
the marshes and mud holes with log