The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-07-15
THE ROAD pRopLENr.

M ont Station, Makes Some suGgss.
tons.
To The Editor n the Intdltqcn'er.
sIR:-The desirability OF the citizens
of the state devoting more attention to
our public roads has been forcibly i'm
pressed upon me in recent trip Of sew
eral hundred miles, extending through
many counties OF tho state.
There is something wrong in ouf road
laws, or in their execution, and every
public spirited citizen Of the state
should awake to the importance OF i'm
proving our system OF country roads.
1t is very evident that the bulk OF the
road taxes levied in this state is either
Very injudiciously applied to the pur-
pose for which they arc lowed, or we
have eminentlv inferior men for road
supervisors. Even at this season Of the
year, when roads should be excellent,
the minority Of tho country roads are
in such poor condition that difficulty is
experienced in moving the farm prod
ucts to market, and in driving the
lighter vehicles over them. 1t is true
that the roads are dry, but in most
places they are so rough either from the
ruts OF last winter, or from rocks that
are permitted to tic loose in them, but
We have constant obstruction to travel
and an additional cost OF from fifty to
seventy-fve per cent in the expense Of
moving our crops to the markets.
In many sections OF the country, We
have loud complaints. about the de-
preston in agriculture, hut we have not
heard OF the farmers taking any steps
to increase their profits by reducing
the expenses OF transportation OF their
crops to market In many counties in
this state, am convinced that the SIM
pie matter OF working tho roads and
bringing them into first class condition,
would in many cases change the results
upon the farmers ledger from loss to
profit 49,.
Within the last three years in this
county (Monongalinl we have had a
wonderful revolution i'll the character
OF country roads. They arc still far
from being what We ought to have, but
tho county court has had the wisdom to
invest a lew hundred dollars in road
machines, which, with four horses and
two men in day, can work more road
and DO it far hotter than can ordinarily
be accomplished with thirty or forty
hands in the same time. It Is doubtful
whether our county court has ever ex-
pended money more wisely than in the
purchase OF these road machines, and II
every county in tho state would adopt
the method OF using these improve
ments for working the roads, the value
Of the farms would DO materially in
creased. the profits Of agricultural pur-
suits moro secure, and facilities Tor
communication among the agricultural
classes very much improved. We hope
in this county that the number OF road
machines will be doubled, and that the
roads may DO left in tirstclass condition
in the fall before tho winter rains set
in. These machines have been freely
used during the past spring, and this
summer we have better roads than the
oldest citizens have over seen in the
county.
The machines when properly handled
leave the bitches at both sides Of the
road open and thoroughly clean, and
the centric of tho road higher than
either side, 30 that thorough drainage
il effected, and the water kept OF the
road bed, point which is generally
neglected, or at least not sufficiently
emphasiEad by the road supervisors.
Culverts large enough to pervent their
being readily filed should be placed
under the road wherever necessary, and
upon most Of our roads much closer
than at present.
We trust that tho county courts Of
evsry county in the State will take this
matter into consideration, and develop
systom which will lead to the moro
frequent working OF the roads, to the
moro perfect drainage Of road.beds, and
to tho prompt repair OF damages to the
road.bCd, before serious injury is done.
There Is no public money expended in
the state more wisely than in the care.
tul laying out and maintenance OF the