Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1892-03-11

country roads. With them communicate
ton is quickly and easily accomplished,
Instead of rolling up and boarding Il
huge surplus, their governments spend
large sums in the building and repairing
of the country roads. The rcsultis that
i'll Europe farmers drive twenty to thirty
miles from home to market with i'm
mense loads in all kinds of weather, at
all. seasons of the year, and return
home the same day. The European
horse hauls twice as much as an Ameri-
4 horse, simply because the European
roads are much better. His owner can
visit his neighbors at any time. He can
drive to town, make social calls, and
enjoy all the personal advantages of q
resident of the city. and still.
maintain the independence and en-
joy. the pleasures of country life. One
OF our farmers tried to drive to town
with a stout span OF bays and u LOAD. of
hay. The mud was drying up in places,
packing and rolling under the wheels.
The load wasn't a big one, but the road
was still rutty, and IL of the whitile-
trees broke. The team was unhitched,
and Che farmer went to the blacksmith's
shop for necessary repairs. While he.
was gone every horse and vagrant COW
that cSine along nipped his load. Now,
this farmer ridiculed the idea that the
farm horses of Europe hauled twice as
much as his horses simply because the
roads of that continent arc better than
ours. But he changed his mind when he
saw IL picture OF u French road, showing
Il French farmer with his load of hay
en- his way to market nine miles dis
tant. There We're four tons of hay in
that Frenchman's load, or about one
and one-third tons to each horse. Tho
surface of the road was hard and smooth,
nicely sloped in both directions, so as to
insure quick drainage. The wheels We're
two and Il half times as wide as those
on the American wagon, and they rolled
over the surface of the road in a MAN.
ner that tends to make it hard and
smooth instead of cutting and creating
ruts, as is always the case when narrow
tires are used. Mr.. Potter proceeds:
Notice the height OF the load; it tow
ers up among the trees, and it's immense
bulk gives it the appearance Of an Amer
lean haystack. Compare its height with
the height of the driver who walks along
by the roadside, or with the size of the
chaise which you see coming along i'm
mediately behind. See how easily the
horses jog along! They are moving as
comfortably as you could wish, and
there is no sign OF Juggling or straining
in their movements. If you had IL road
like that from your farm to town, you
might do all your hauling with two
horses instead of the five you now have
and save yourself an immense expense"
Another picture shows a loaded two
wheel cart drawn by two horses and
bearing six large casks of wine, a load
aggregating several tons, ON Il German
road. This immense Load rolls easily
over the eve surface of the highway.
Such traffic is practically impossible on
our roads, which wear out horses, har-
nesses and humanity, kill patience and
render Improbable delays at roadside
inns necessary. Viewed from any stand
point, it will be seen that good road
leds pay. They save power, shorten
distance and time, increase speed, insure
comfort and safety and are Il good in
vestmentin every respect. Roads should
be looked after with the same system
and care that are bestowed OIL the man
asement of other departments of gov
eminent. Their Improvement along the
lines adopted by the countries of tho
old world would make every farmer
happy and Independent in the conscious
ness that he is every day and every way
in touch with the great world of bust
ness and society. On the smooth sur
face of Il macadam road one horse will
haul twice the load it can on the best
dirt road and from five to ten times as
much as can be hauled when the dirt
road is covered with soft mud and ruts.
The great destroyers of common earth
roads are water and narrow wheel tires.
Careful drainage is therefore important.
and the use of wide wheel tires is cult
waited.
That it only requires cooperation and
perseverance to improve our country
roads is evidenced by three or four small
towns in New Jersey. They We're mado
up of q plodding population in moderate
circumstances, doing business on a low
scale, in accordance with their poor ia
cilities for communication. When the
mud was hub deep, those who lived in
those towns stayed at home and waited
for the roads to dry. Surrounding con-
sumer We're oppressed by slack sup
ply and enhanced prices. Trade was UNI
certain, and farming was carried on with
Indifferent success. But a marvellous
transformation took place wheel road
Improvement was earnestly undertaken.
Land values increased, traffic was
4uAShSliSu dilu culiiScu, soClul cOLlllnCl-
nicatiOn became easier and more frc-i
qucnt, schools, churches, shops, mar
ket places, and railroad stations became
more attractive as a place of residence.
Equal good followed the Improvement of
the roads in Parke County, Indiana
Several splendid yravelpikes were made,
all leading to the county seat, while ali
main roads in the county, and the worst
portions of the cross roads were we'll
graveled. Country travel became Il de-
light, business increased, and a general
Frightening" up was at once noticeable.
In order to get better roads the farm
ers are urged to insist that the main
roads in their districts shall be recon-
structed and kept in repair at the ex-
pense of the State at large, instead of by
a tax directed against the farmers alone.
Then they should send men to the State
Legislatures to advocate the gospel of
good roads. Any increase of taxation
involved would be more than offset by
the advantages and comforts conferred
by good roads, which always have n ten
dency to accumulate, improve and pros
per. This great reform, Mr.. Potter con-
cludes, must come from the people, and
most Of all from the farmers. 1t is o
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