Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1894-01-19
Something about Roads.

As spring approaches, and 1t will not be
long now before the robin will nest again
as we were saying, as spring approaches
the subject of roads is mighty good one
to discuss. That there are bad roads in
Butler county, some OF them near Butler,
nobody can deny, and nobody cares to
deny il, but everybody is disgusted with
them. 1t is the duty Of the township road
supervisors to make these roads better, and
tney can do it if they make an honest
effort This thing of dumping few stones
in a mud hole or opening few yards OF
ditch by the roadside is played out. Peo-
pie are talking of the neglect, and when
the people get to talking and criticising
the absurd things that are done and the
many good things that are left undone, ID
the matter of roads aud road building,
something is going to drop A little IN
duirv into how road taxes are expended,
and when and where, and how road taxes
are worked out might show up some very
interesting facts.
The State Board of Agriculture has been
paving considerable attention OF late to the
subject of the construction of good roads,
and giving it intelligent discus. ion. Sec
retary Edge, who has always been stlcker
for good roads, at the meetings of the
Board, generally contrives to bring the
subject up for discussion, and is doing all
he can to help bring about better condi-
ton of affairs. In his forthcoming report,
Secretary Edge will talk as follows on the
road subject: "While radical change in
the construction of roads must necessarily
lead to a great outlay OF money, better
roads than we now have can be had with
no extra ontlay y of money; but there must
be change in the manner of building or
working our roads. 1t is expecting too
much to look for an entire change in all
the roads of the country at once. Then, II
it were practicable TO make part of the
roads permanent, the trouble would be,
where to begin. There are not so many
principal roads as formerly. The roads
near cities and large towns are more im-
portant than those more remote, but not 80
much so as formerly, since railroads enter
nearly every city and town and do most OF
the carrying Of freight and passengers.
"The roads most used are those where
the railroad station is at distance from
the town. Such roads might be made
| permanent at the expense Of the county or
State, but she very large part of the roads
must remain dirt roads for long time to
come. The roads of the country are grow
ing more equally important In sections
where cheese factories, creamerics or caE-
ming factories are located, the roads are
brought into more general use. When we
get the general mail delivery, and the
school system is changed 50 as to have one
central graded school in each township,
and the children brought in and returned
every day in wagons, the roads will be
still more equally important. In order to
improve our country roads three things
are necessary. First, let there be a geher-
al awakening of the people in every town
ship on this subject, and say we will have
better roads. Second, select men for sup
ervisors who know something about road
and have the backbone to see that they
are built and maintained. Third, select
men for pathmasters who can supervise
the building Of a road and who will see
that every dollar credited to any man iol
work done on the. road is earned. The
township which starts out with this end in
view, can have good roads, and that, too
without any additional cost in the matter
of taxation"