Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-01-01
WAGON ROADS.
THEIR CONSTRUCTION AND
MAINTENANCE.
A Paper Read ~ " l. Lynch Before The
Southern sooist o. Civil Engineers

Some time ago Judge VI T. Lynch,
wen known civil engineer q thls city,
read valuable paper on wagon road
construction before The Southern Society
Of Civil Engineers
n Is very perth 1T just NJ this time
and in view Of a. marked interest In
tie subject The Gazette publishes the
paper with great pleasure:
The condition " our public highways
IS such that serious consideration Of
the subject, with view to their per
iuauent aud systematic improvement
eau no longer be deferred, especially
cultural and manufacturing interests Of
this section ia taken into consideration.
The philosopher has snid that q lead
ing test Of the civilization Of people
was the condition of pubic highways,
citing the Romans and other notions az
is examples This may be true 30 the
abstract but due allowance must be made
Cor the people Of new country until
sufficient time has elapsed 10 enable them
to acquire the means and devote the
necessary time to public improvements Of
permanent character
Believing The time has arrived when
discussion of the subject would be Of
advantage the writer respectfully sub
mils This paper for The consideration Of
the society, entering briefly into the
engineering principles involved. aud re-
viewing the subject In general, with a
view to % thorough discussion boy those
whose professional training and expert
cucc Gt them for the consideration of
This important ouhject, nud 10 the end
that the result may Doe ava improvement on
She crude system now In force by plac-
ing the matter IN the light that los iul-
portnncc deserves before thc people and
legislatures of the various states through
which our membership exists
Cucvnl with the construction Of nm
abode OF shelter tlc labor Of the primi-
dive ppn was directed TO the opening
Of paths, trails or ronds for PURPOSES OF
intoroommuulcitiou and as communities
Increased iu population, luvs governing
the subject we're formulated, tllc same
condition With certain notifications ex.
istug 90 the prcsc b day.
In some If our gtitcs the roads are
maintained hy o system Of general tax
alton, or The slate m some instances
guus % franchise 20 company Tor thc
construction and maintenance Of uru-
pixies 40 certain utc OF toll for the traffic
poasug o,er thou, iu others thc slate
| requires its able bodied citizens uutwrpu
certain ages to work sp many days each
yen, on tho r,uds. uulcr the direction OF
roul precinct oycscon, appointed by the
county courts. with thv alternative of 81
"a dpy uu Tor non attendance.
This b. undoubtedly n muN crude aud
! unJuat law, as through sou,v nouns the
residents OF tue cities aud towns seem
to pe exempt from its operations. the
burdou failing ON thr Door man WHO
| cannot afford 81 dny for
substitute. aud has 10 leave lH farm TO
| work the ruul with his neshbOrs SO
| that thcy may De kept iu rcpuir Tor who
| over may desire 90 ildo over tlDm
THAT this law la practically worthless
uud imperative cannot bee wondered at
| us NJ ih considered uurs sided aud unjust
I by those WHO COME under its provisions
| who after Assembling 900 the can ut the
mrls,or with few old rusty uXcs aud
| hura lny thvu lihr axes anal huc5l care
| iully t7ldp and choosing o. shady place.
| devote themselves to the intellectual
| occupation ut playing poker or seven up
/ vntici occasionally ou the way home
| hy putting q tuu pieces OF brush into a
I gully or filling up % lrW bad NJ lee ruts
/ 10y scratching with their HOES The ra.
/ suit of ull this De- of course mo- roads W0I-
/ tlN of the name.
/ lAr remedy ion ths state of affairs
/ nud thr PROPER munuor of arranging for
/ thr construction o.. OF public roads would
| appear Go thn Wuttr Gao hoe HyHtom ~
! gourul taxation falling cltiiably ou
! The rich aud poor alike ou the resilient
/ ui the city and ui the vomtry, ANA un
| the property of the nonresident property
! holdcr supWemvutcd Whom practicable
/ 10y The labor of skate and county cone
I ficts
That this would be equitable an round
! would appear 90 hc beyond dispute. as
! tAeR Town H Interested in drawing to lt
! trldc 0ud produce of the surrounding
/ country, which must have roads fpr as
! recommendation The better aud more
! roads 10 % country thC upro valuable nrr
! the adjucont lands hence the advantage
| to the property holder THE hotrr and
more ronds the hotter Tor Toe ftrmpr and
I pFoducor a. IL costs him less o. market
DIS produce, Tor what shall "a prW
hun 20 raise twenty-five hrlp5 of cotton
| or 200 bushels of corn, NJ he mas TO borrow
/ qua the oxen n his npivhhorhnad tn bptl
| lt Go market Besides tho broad min
] tiple Is Involved that the roads aro pub
! lc highways, the property Of the stntr
\ oyec which AN citizens have the rlrhi
To travel consequently AN should he
| oqMMhly taxed fur their mnmtonRprr
lhe newt subject Tint preseuts uslf
Tor conn'dcfNlion m this connection Is
lhe manner In which roads Should be
| located OF changed, or the manner az
/ thelr construction and mnintenanro
| NMing 10 the system Of United States
/ llnd surveys prevailing n tho Older STATES
the question of location b ropipara.
! uveiy slmplc matter but IL Is altorethnr
Uilerent in Texas, as the old Spanish
NNtem 9i locating tracts of various
] eAVA Nhd ~ amy shape whore vacant
'9pd existed provided until the pnllie
yomaih was exhausted no reference being
had 70 township or other REGULAR limos
hence che location and changing ~ county
| fouis has been source uf meptlinr
| trouble and VoNUUln go county colrts
ana gufens f'neralN and secms 10 bo
GROWING worse rs population increases
ana land onbaHccs Ia value
Laws have repeatedly kecn mn ~
az regarding this matter. but s6 f,r
without helng sntisfNctory
WIN regard tp the general evstep
thnt should ~ gldptod. ne subject X
ANrh dUeNG 3ne, and has hnd 40
inUny htWs Wty,d regarding Il IN ynr.
Gus states, And So much Thought ana
discussion bestowed upon II. thst fhe
writer y tree to ntpit that he arproa,h
WIN huidwsce' hut az the All OF
! fVW-mahnE lies properly within ma
| sphere Of the nngineerinp nr,f's NV
I the question 0f mo Inst stet,,t ~ go