River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-01-26
Road Reform.

The question of better roads is at
tracing almost universal considera-
tion all over the country.
We note the following among the
reforms suggested: Macadam roads
wherever the travel will justify the
expense; wida tires on all roads.
a suggestion from practical farmer
in this vicinity, we have not seen else
where but which is a most excellent
one, is to have the runners of heavy
sleighs set about 4 feet inches apart,
or about The width of "a wagon. the
object being to provide a wider bear
ing for the load and also to make the
track for the runners little outside
of the track used by the team, thus
giving more room for the horses. We
hope that this suggestion may be
taken up in the road conventions and
pushed. We subjoin a few extracts
showing the attention being paid to
this important subject elsewhere:
Road Improvement.
The beneficial effects of improving
highways can be seen in Union and
Essex counties in New Jersey. On
Long Island a good road has enabled
the farmers to haul easily double the
loads they with difficulty carried to
market over the old dirt ways. In
Westchester county admirable work
has been done through Dobbs Ferry,
Tarrytown, Irvington and the adjoin-
ing river settlements. The town of
Westminster has expended large sums
for macadam roads. The village of
Pelham Manor has voted $4,000 for
the same purpose. Last week the viii
lage of New Rochelle voted $50, 900 to
begin the work.-New York World.
There is no single matter which
falls within the functions of the law
making power which is so vitality i'm
portant to the settlement of country:
to the enhancement of the value of
its lands; to the promoting of the man.
fold industrial interests which re.
quire transportation facilities; to the
advancement of the schools and
churches, and the general convent
ence and social intercourse of the peo-
as the construction and maintenance
of good roads. There is no factor
which so operates to build up towns
as that of good roads entering it.
Nashville American.
There can be no thorough roadmak.
ing reform in Minnesota if every CON-
munity is left to carry out its own
notions. There is no reason why the
country authorities should not work
under a general road improvement
law. AS it is now, one county may
have fair roads and the next may
have the worst of roads. 1t is little
encouragement for the people of one
county to diligently improve their
highways if the surrounding counties,
which they have to traverse, pay lit
tie or no attention to the subject
Minneapolis Journal.
Many persons who regard them
selves as tolerably well informed on
most public questions will be sur
prised to be told, for example, that in
the state of Illinois, alone, it has been
estimated that the loss sustained by
farmers and owners of horses and
wagons generally from bad roads, is
placed at $4,000. 900 year. Through
out the whole country it is thought
that the loss from this source, at the
very lowest figure cannot be less than
5000, 600, 900 year.--Atbany Erpress.
A president of one of the most ex.
tensive railway lines on the continent
says that ''the sum of all the other
waste and extravaganza in North
America does not equal the waste and
extravaganza of bad roads" There
are few who will deny the statement.
Good highways form an important
factor in commerce that has been too
long neglected. Toledo Bee.