The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-01-19
FOR HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT.
How Present Methods May Be Change
For the General Benefit.

How Present Methods May Be Changed
For the General Benefit.
Good roads have been considered from
the remotest past accurate and certain
tests of the progress and intelligence Of
community. II would naturally be
expected as the necessity for them in
creased and their numbers multiplied
that the theories and principles Of their
construction would attract an extended
investigation and lead to constant and
rapid system of improvement. Still, from
the present general condition of many
places in this country, 1t does not appear
that this branch of political economy has
attracted that attention from progress
I've people, wishing to attract city resi-
dents to suburban homes, which its i'm
portance demands.
The present management Of country
roads is open to serious objection and
criticism, and while it IL scarcely possi-
BILE to find excuse for perpetuating it the
sole difficulty in the way of modifying it
probably lies in the fact that public at
tention, except In very rare instances,
has not been called to it with sufficient
directness and Intelligence. IL has ap-
peared to many that the money levied
for this purpose is more than double
what is necessary for doing most thor
oughly the work which is often done in
very slovenly manner, and sometimes
not done at all.
1t is urged by men who have had ex-
perience in this line that IL the money
raised by road tax, or its equivalent of
labor, should be wisely and economical
ly expended, if the roadmasters and COM
missioners were selected for their fitness
and held accountable for anything short
of result commensurate TO the fullest
with the means placed mt their disposal,
there is no doubt but that the condition
Of the roads could be vastly improved
with the present expenditures and pres
ent results obtained at one half the pres
ent cost.
BY the present system repairs are made
at long intervals, resulting in an enlarge
ment of the work needed TO an extent
that would be otherwise unnecessary.
The work being most frequently per-
formed at the wrong season, the evil re-
suits of bad roads naturally follow. and
they are continued and prolonged i'm
measurably as direct consequence Of
the system now in vogue.
The question is sometimes asked, "Do
farmers understand how much poor
roads cost them in lost time, wear and
tear Of horses, harness and wagons?'
Many roads are laid out badly, and for
score OF reasons that may be given
why they are so situated perhaps not
one will have the merit Of general con-
venience.
As to the effect Of grade, il has been
estimated that on q slope of | foot in "A
feet, or 100 feet 10 the mile. horse can
only draw three-quarters as much as he
can upon level; on a slope Of in "a,
or 22O feet TO the mile. he can only draw
one-half as much, and on a slope of | in
10, or 52s feet to the mile, only one-quar.
ter as much.
IL will be seen that when either Of
these conditions In tho road exists, IL
but once or twice in a length OF or
10 miles, since the load must be carried
over the whole road, 10 must be reduced
TO what can be carried up the ascent.
Thus, II slope TO "a occurs. as a
horse can draw MP IL only one-halfa full
load, he must CARY over the fcvel parts
OF the road only one-half as much as be
should draw there.
BY reason of defects Of surfaces OF
level roads, the farmer, at scarcely any
season Of the year, is able TO derive more
than 90 per cent Of the value Of a days
work from his horses or cattle while
making use Of the means Of communica-
tion existing in his neighborhood. New
York Time4 49, =