The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-12-27

Ter hlled in with broken stone or cob BILE
stones, which provides a curb-like
being to uuay Dr.s% sa' by yrAys ssa
constant action OF the wheels. The road
bed Is slightly browning along the center
with n slight channel along the edges.
where, aJ suitable intervals, are con-
structed blind drains that allow the
water 10 escape in the adjacent soil. On
an Incline, a series OF oblique or trans
verse breakers or dams are made TO de-
fleet the water aside before 1T has at
tained sufficient volume and momentum
to be injurious.
Mr.. Reach spoke OF the piece OF road
built by him and said that IL cost So per
running rod, eight feet in width aud from
two 10 three feet deep. He thought that
sixteen feet was the proper width for IL
road
Questions were asked OF Mr.. Keach and
the information was brought ont which
Is given In the description of the road
way.
Mr.. Bowen and Others.
w NJ u. Bowen presented road map
made from the United States geological
survey showing the condition Of the roads
in the State. He made suggestions for
improving the highways and spoke of the
benefit TO the farmers which --culi come
from better roads.
T.. III. Mulholland said: "There is hut
one sentiment in the state in regard to
this question We need good roads and
in Rhode Island when ANYTHING is needed
it is generally obtained.
w. Il. Lewis, Jr. said: 81 am a resi-
dent OF the to wn or harrington and has
TO build road short time ago. IL cost
!S cents square yard, it being fifteen
feet wide. The road was to BRISTOL"
Hor Adm Is. Capron said that when n
man paid tax of s25 or $50 for improv-
ing the road in his district, sometimes
three .r four miles in length, no more
could Le done than TO make the road
passabie. In regard to the price OF road
building he said the highway from the
Woonsocket line through Cumberland
and over Cumberland hill. cost 5000 "a
mile.
Col. Ballou's Opinion.
Daniel +. Ballou said that the question
of good roads involved question
of economies 1t was psrsimonious
economy To work out road taxes.
IL good roads were essential then an
expenditure OF money Is called for which
cannot be measured by the gauge of
cheapness, parsimony or indifference,
Without better roads we cannot have
cheap transportation, liz it costs mill
lion aud a half dollars it Is a cheap ex-
penditure. The cost is large at first but
IA ehC obu Will oc Sucdp. lnc COUCeuSuS
OF public opinion in Providence was TOR
the State TO have charge Of the mainte-
nance OF the highways. rs<ss
Mr.. Wilson asked Col. Ballou il he
was familiar with the scheme for the
State to pay three-quarters of the cost.
Col. Ballou was not.
Mr. Wilson said that the commission
was asked To recommend that the city of
Providence be asked to pay $775, 600 out
of the s., 500 900 State tax.
Alfred Stone said that he for one would
heartily vote for the city to pay its pro-
portionate part of th 8 state tax The city
of Providence would get full return for
the money spent. The state should bear
the whole expense of road building.
Mr.. Capron spoke OF the return to the
City of Providence in proportion to the
returns to the country towns for the
money expended.
Mr.. Stone wanted the commission to
recommend something which would be
obligatory on those who used the roads.
particularly in regard to the use OF wide
Tires.
Farmer" Greene had had con nsiderable
experience travelling over Massachusetts
and Rhode Island roads, aud gave a his
tory of aforesaid experience. lie wanted
the Journal to advocate good roads, be-
cause he knew, SO he declared that il
would do anything IL it was paid for it.
Mr. Bowen wanted the question sub
mitted to the people that the state should
pay the whole OF the cost and the city its
part.
After some further remarks the hear
ing was adjourned.