The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-05-13

uneXampie ueartH IN ioreiSu couhtTies!
Yet we not only ask no appropriation
for our roads but have no word OF pro-
test against system which has rooted
out the Now England farmer, the fore
most of his race in the world, and
promises to do the same in all the older
States, their places being supplied by q
class sufficient to make the old Puritans
turn in their graves, The same is true
of State revenue, which is yearly appro
priated for all sorts of purposes except
that of improving highways through
the lands that furnish almost that en-
tire revenue.
But to have good permanent stone
roads we must begin at home, in our
township organizations. If three or
four adjacent townships would take
joint action, and by bonding the town,
raise lump sum large enough to build
20 or 30 up to SO miles Of macadamized
roads, and let the work out on contract,
then there would be no lack of LARGE
contracts, professional road makers, to
take the contract and give sufficient
bonds for ful6llment; they having all
the necessary plant for the work, trac-
ton engine, stone crushers, wheel SCRIP.
ers, rollers, and even portable track,
could do the work much cheaper and
better than any single town could do it.
In our township. where but little grad
ing or draining is required. and where
there is an abundance of stone, at easy
distances, to BE- had for the asking, a
good road might be built for $1,000
per mile. We have short piece Of
road built of crushed stone, we'll drain
ed, and rolled and covered with stone
dust from the crushing, (Galena lime
s,one). This dust formed a paste i'm
pervious to water, and stood the strain
of this past very trying winter perfectly;
cost about $4,000 per mile. Another
short piece, costing about the same, OF
hand broken stone, covered with gravel,
failed in places; gravel is too yielding
and lets in the water. A third piece
built by township oumissioner, Of
imperfecty broken stone, and covered
with clay, was rough all winter. but
kept us out of the mud, cost 81 per cd.
We have law authorizing the town
after certain formalities, to raise by
bonding the town, a sum equal to S per
cent Of the total assessed valuation. We
cannot in any other way raise more
than per cent for road purposes. but
some lawyers doubt what the decision
of the superior court might be as to
the legality of bonding if the case is
brought before it. Such doubt would
be fatal to the bonds, so we shall have
to get the next Legislature to put it
beyond peradventure.
But it shall be not part Of any plan
for making stone roads to have all the
expense fall on the townships. In our
town alone we have about so miles of
roads, Of which the principal thorough.
fares should be stoned. We must have
State aid, and should send to the legis-
ature only those who are pledged to
obtain it il possible. The tax we pay
the State is comparatively small; in
crease that by one half more, the tax
would still be light, but the amount
raised more than sufficient. Some
writer has lately suggested that in view
of the very great objection which has
been lately made to the employment of
State prison labor in various manufac-
lures, the convicts should be employed
in building State roads. Many might
object to having them loose on the
highway, as in the Southern States,
but there could be no objection to EN- =
ploying them in the manufacture of
tiles and vitrifed bricks, such as are
used for road making in the lowlands
of Germany. These vitrifed bricks
would answer admirably for many parts
Of our State. We should also urge our
members of Congress to obtain a GOV
eminent appropriation for roads, which
would bring more votes than a post
office. By national and State aid the
burden would be more evenly distrib.
uted, and even the railroads made to
contribute to help their humble breth
REM. T. L., Dixon, III.
-k4Np4
The Cincinnati Herald, a strong