The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-03-18
COUNTRY ROADS.
Some Examples or How the Laws
Now Existing Operate

nearly everv economist IN the coun-
try is talking about them, says the
Atlanta Constitution. THIS Is the
one place where our people seem to
be stubborply set against progress.
But the present wide agitation of
the subject is sure to hasten the re-
form so long needed.
John Gilmer Speed, of New Jer-
sey writing in the September num-
Der of Llppincott's Magazine, de-
scribes the situation well. and points
out some of the remedies. He SAYS
the roads care so generally bad that
| have met native born Americans
who had never travelled abroad who
could not be brought to believe that
good roads were possible He
thinks the reason why we have
Jagged behind all other countries
which have stable government
may be found in the fact that we
are weak in our communal system
orcounty and townshipgovernment.
As for the steps already taken for
improvement, he mentions the Penn
svlvapia road com mission appointed
TO formulate measure, and refers
to the recommendation of Governor
Hill. Of New York, that the state
bulid at least two roads across each
county. In Massachusetts they
have a road department, in charge
of civil engineer, who may travel
over the state and give advice on
the construction of roads and
bridges. AS his advice is not bind
ing this system it is feared will not
work.
AS an example of the working of
the road laws now IN vogue, Mr..
Speed tells what goes on in his town
ship in New Jersey:
"From the township village to
the county town." says he, "the
distance is about seven miles
and the difference in elevation
about $50 feet. There is valley
running nearly all the way between
the two places. Had the highway
been located IN this valley the dis
lance between the points would
have been less than 1t IS, and there
would not have been a heavy grade
ION the whole route. Instead of
this the highway has been placed
variously over the hills, on the hill.
sides and in the valley, so which
ever way one goes it is always up or
down hill. All the produce not con-
sumeG in the township has, during
a century and a half, been hauled
over this dreadful road. The tax
that this unskillfully constructed
road has entailed upon the several
generations that have lived in the
township has of course been enor.
nous. And the roads are not mere
ly badly laid out, they are wretch
eddy built and maintained. Yet
the people have always had at hand
the best kind of material to make
good roads, for the surface of the
fielus is covered with stones which
need only little breaking to be
just what IS needed. And then
there is limestone in abundance all
about, and gravel too. For many
years past the township has levied
tax of 81 600 each year for repair
roads. Only about one-third of
this tax is paid IN money. The rest
is paid in labor, and that, too. at
the rate of $3.50 per day, when the
prevailing rate of labor Tor much
harder work is only 1925 per day.
When the farmers have finished
their spring blowing and planting
they 60 out on "a kind of picnic
frolic on the road. They pillow up
the grass along the sides of the
road and put the sods and the muck
from the bitches into the center of
the road, and very carefully throw
all the small stones up against the
fences on either side. need not
tell what the consequence of this is.
When the weather is wet the roads
are six inches deep with a heavy
and adhesive mud when the weather
is dry. as it is apt to be in summer.
the roads are fetlock deep in dust.
What should go on the roads, so as
to make them hand, is left lying
loosely in the fields, and what if
put upon the fields would make
them SIGH and fruitful is put in the
roads to hinder traffic and travel"
The result Of this kind Of work
might be imagined. but he gives it
in significant words:
Gin the whole township there IS
not n rich man. and there ale not
more than two or three who are
moderately prosperous. Nearly
every farm is mortgaged, very many
up to their full value, while each
recurring census shows that the
population is getting smaller. And
TINS is only thirty miles from New
VII and - aa1k,o.,