The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-01-31

49," HNHH
eSemptlEg those who ara too old to
work. This amount added TO the an
nuRt levy would make q very large sum
that is actually paid out at random
every year, and We have very little to
show Tor it. II Is said that the super
ylsors, the country over, eXpend n
way or another 5000 900 yearly. The
United states postotIice department ex-
ponds al equal SUN in ways moro dI-
verse and difficult OF control. In one
case We have q well Organized national
bureau ami an economical expenditure
OF the money, in the other no oreanlIl-
ton nor method, and the expenditure
Is almost an utter waste. TINS demon
strates clearly that Tor economy and
proper linanc!erIng We need national
control.
l have thus lar touched upon the
ways and means, that arc likely to be
used in disposing OF the difficult prob.
lem Of how it may be possible Tor Ms to
have good roads. But until tho present
darkness is dispelled, and the dawn OF
that bright and better day for which We
now hope, how shall We use the mean
now within Il roach 10 the best adj
vantage? We cannot hope lor any great
change, yet there are many ways open
Tor Improvement / presume Ohio
county has many more miles OF macad-
aml1cd roads than any county IN the
state, but they are moi quite up to our
ideal under present circumstances, Loo
cation, gradca and many minor details
could DO vastly improved,
CASE ~ rOINr.
Tor instance, We take II OF our
best macadamized roads in tho county
which Is well drained, comparatively
ever and solid road bod, but We come
to u steep grade that Is almost a botch
to the whole enterprise. 4 lew years
ago previous to lnaCadamIzirg one OF
our county roads contracts were let Tor
grading and putting il in shape to re-.
ceIvO tho stone. One hill in particular
over which the road runs needed com
plete overhauling, the grades and ills
required considerable work to even
bring it down to = tivc-degrcG grade.
Tho specifications were complete
enough, but tho contractors failed to
comply with the instructions. The
grade was very little improved upon
tho contractors were paid the full
amount and sent OH their way ]rCjoic.
ing, The county without further in.
vcstigation proceeded to macadam,zo
the unfinished road bed, aud so it re.
mains, In this case tho county was
more to blame than the contractors.
Another little thing that would add
to the good OF the road and the comfort
OF the traveller, would bo in giving par.
ticular attention to the broken stone
that are scattered broadcast we our
roads every year, They aro broken
very large, small and indifferent, &C.
cOrding to the character OF the breaker.
| noticed q stone breaker las! iail who
broke tho bulk OF his stone SO large
that they would not 20 through u ring
! inches in diameter, yet these stone
wCro permitted to DO spread on u road
already macadamized, where they will
nevur pack in tho united kingdom"
aud all the penalty imposed ior such
about ) or q yard. in 4 hundred. In
stead OF making him break them ovor
or no pay, tho Job was taken oil his
hands, thus putting q premium on ras-
cality, and tho farmers who are COM
PEELED to use these rough roads have
the penalty to pay. Broken stone for
grades and repairing roads already
stoned ought to be broken fine, and in
decd no stone should be US coarse for re-
pairing maCadami2od surface even
whore level, as is required for the first
application. But thus far have failed
to see any difference in the si2o Of the
stone usually broken, and tho cousc-
QuenCc is that some OF our roads are rs
rough and jolty in GUNNER "a mud is
unbeNrablo in winter. ! think some i'm
provoment in this respect is worth
considering.
Let us petition our County Commits.
sioners to give particular instructions
to road supervisors as 4 part Of their
duty III keeping our maCadNmi2ci roads
in repair, to scrapo all loose stone in
small heaps along the road side, after
the road has become settled. and utilize
them for filling M ruts. liuts! what a
significant meaning that word has. Let
Us get out OF tho ruts ii possible.
BROADER TIRES WANTED.
Our roads are almost two continuous
ruts. But you may ask how are we to
got out OF them. | will simply say BY
~forsaking our g]raudfathcrs' ways. 1t is
strange how We can adapt ourselves TO
circumstances, or perhaps | had better
say habituatc ourselves to old customG.
1t costs US more TO keep out OF the ruts
than nearly all road repairs put to-
gethcr. We'll, how can We avoid ruts,
there is only n way, and that is by
doing away with narrow tires. Ibis
part OF tho subject is most likely TO
touch an unpopular chord, for, as | said,
1t is III old custom. But we must pro-
gress and We cannot do SO by standing
still. The ramody must hn rs radical as
the disease 10 dUep seated. Ii We want
number one roads VIC must adopt wide
tires. As for utility, it il said THAT IL
wagon is capable OF its best work only
when thoroughly tired, which can hard
ly BIO said OF the horse, and il has also
been noticed that the horse gets more
tired as tho wagon isn't
1t affords me satisfaction TO know that
wido tires are growing into popular
favor, and are being used in some see
tons OF the country. Tho Michigan
lawmakers, torcsGoing the advantages
to be derived by the use Of a broad tire,
made their law so that any farmer using
Il wide tire on his wagon would DO re-
muncratcd by receiving rebate Of one.
half OF his road tax. But thoro are
other advantages TO tho Michigan farm
or. They claim that in the Cornticld
thirty bushels OF corr made a heavy
load with narrow tires, and that now
fifty bushels OF corn can DO hauled with
greater ease with tho wide tIrUs. An
other advantage would be that in draw