The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-01-13
The Move for Better Highways.


Adequately to provide fertile country
with good roads Ii is necessary to have on
the average one mile OF we'll constructed
way to each square mile of the area. Con-
structed in the cheapest possible manner
consistent with true economy, the cost
of giving these roads firm and enduring
surface. such as macadam affords, cannot
be less than So. 900 per nile, or about S. for
each acre of land which is thus furnis he'd
With means of communication. II Is
therefore evident that any laundering in
the effort 10 better our roads may be not
only costly to the communities which are
seeking improvement in their highway
systems. but may result in taxing rather
than helping the farmers. Therefore the
fret and most immediate need IL for q
body OF trained men. who have. in addi-
ton to fair knowledge of engineering,
which will enable them properly to lay
out a road and build tho necessary bridges.
special training in the peculiar learning
which the modern 'highwayman" requires
Tor his craft. This includes some knowl-
edge OF physical geology. 80 much of
mincralogy as will enable him to iudg
the qualities of rocks, and fair acquaint-
anee with chemistry and physics. To do
the work demanded of him the roadmaster
should have the general training of a
skilled civil and Typographical engineer
and special education IN the matters
which pertain TO roads.
As vet our engineering schools have
hardly begun To train men for the need
which we are considering. though in
several of them courses of lectures on this
subject have been introduced into the
work. In the scientific school of Harvard
university some further progress has been
ntf All Hxt ha .toa tah s..
periments concerning the value of various
road materials, and by having under a
skilled roadmasler practical instruction for
the students ia the held, where they may
become personally acquainted with the
problems TO be met in that department OF
engineering. In order To fit himself for
this employ ment in a satisfactory manner,
a yonth, after receiving proper high
school training. or ITS equivalent, should
spend four years In making ready for his
work. A fair knowledge OF the subject
may be acquired IN two or three years but
10 be in true sense trained in the art de-
manis as much time as is given TO that of
the railway engineer IL behooyes our
technical schools 10 meet this public need
in a prompt and efficient manner.
Next after the need of professionally
trained men, We may reckon as most im-
portant a knowledge as TO the distribution
aud relative value of the road materials
which exist in different parts of this ooun-
try. The cost and goodness OF a road aiik
depends on the nature of the substances
which are uSed. To construc: a mile of
tirst-elass macadam zed or other sub
stantisl road oed. several thousand tons OF
materials. the cost OF which Is IN most
cases made up IN the main Of tgansporla-
ton charges. are required. IL j. therefore
most important 10 have accurate and de-
tailed knowledge "a tn tie sites of those
rocks which can be most advantageousiy
used. At present the better sorts Of road
material ere often carried for the distances
OF several hundred miles. often pass
ing near their defamation mater
las which are equally well fitted
for service. Tais waste Of money
can only be avoided hy wesi-made sur
sey and report OF the country from the
Point OF view of the road maker. Il Is
here that the Federal government can
render a most important service in the
improvement OF the highways. 1t is not
within the limits OF ats powers 10 build
carriage roads, except IN the rare Ia
stances where they are needed for military
pgrpos es. IL can, however. through IT'S
excellent geographical survey. furnish
maps AMI reports which may serve this
need, as IN other foFns they segye those OF
the miner.