Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1894-05-26
GOOD ROAD PROBLEM.
THE ROADS OF FRANCE.
How the Finest Roads ia the world are
Built and kept Ia Repair.

and carried forward to its satisfactory
and splendid conclusion by the late
emperor, Napoleon the Third
The roads OF France are now practi.
eally all bnilt, and they are substantial
monuments to the Napoleonie foresight
and shrewdness. The work OF the en-
gineers In the department OF public
works ia France today is not TO build
new roads, except in rare instances, but
% keep those already constructed In
state Of high efficiency. There have
been no important new roads opened in
France in dozen years, and the coun-
try IS 10 trayersed with excellent road
ways that no more lines OF communion
ton are likely 70 be exploited save in
the case OF military necessity The
wagon roads Of France, always passable
anu reaching all centers OF population,
no matter how small. are the chief
competitors of the railways, as means
OF communication by water are not
numerous
Value Of French roads. The road
system Of France has been OF far great
er value 70 the country as means OF
raising the value OF lands and OF put
ting the small peasant prOprietors in
easy communication with their mar
kets, than have the railways. II is
the opinion OF weil-informed French
men who have made u practical study
Of economic problems, that the superb
roads OF France have been one of the
most steady and potent contributors 20
the material development and marvel
Gus financial elasticity OF the country.
Tie far.reaching and splendidly main
tanned road system has distinctly favor.
cd the success OF the small landed pro-
priet0rA and Ia their prosperity. and
the ensuing distribution Of wealth, lies
the key TO the secret OF the wonderful
financial vitality and solid prosperity
OF the French nation.
Typical Roads The French roads
have compelled the respect and admir-
alton OF foreigners for a century, and
OF all the roads ia the country those
considered the most excellent, and az
the same time most difficult 81 nnaiute.
nance, happen To lie ia this consular
district, which contains IN the lSere
some OF the most rugged Of the French
Alps with their peaks forever snow
clad and Rising 10 height OF li,Oo0
feet.
Another department. that o. the
Loire. il q great Industrial centre, and
ia roads are subjected % the wear and
weight % vehicles heavily laden with
iron. coal, castings, and blocks Of stone
II il also q partially mountainous re.
g,on.
The French road engineers consider
the roads IA these two departments.
the Loirr and the iscre, m examples Of
the highest type OF perfection 10 which
modern ROAD making has reached IN
this country.
The roads Ia thcnr departments are
numerous, 81 easy grade. soiidly built,
always open aud always good, save
when temporarily blocked with snow.
They arc subjected 90 the most change.
sul and violent forces OF nature. snow,
frost. Ice aud furious glacial torrents
springing suddenly into existence at
unexpected points have sought Tor de.
cade % destroy them, but IN vain.
la the high, mountainous regions oi
the larrc I have seen. after violent
kummcr rain Of tbirty.siN hours dura
ton. ffty yards of national road, IN
cluding . small bridge. washed away
by fearful torrent rushing down from
n cloud-cappcd field Of ice, with an nj.
most vertical fall Of 1000 feet In
three hours and Ia the midst Of = Sc
we're storm have seen that same road
repaired temporarily and made passa
bic by the road men IN this remote and
little frcqucntcd region.
II IL this never falling watchfulncs'
and prumptncss In repairing roads
coupled with thorough and honest con
structiou. which gives France a system
Of roads which Is at once source o.
national strength and national pride
From the road records of the depart
mcnts Of the Loire aud the lscre. from
recent observations and from the prac
teal communications Of the working
engineers. have condensed some in
formation covering the principal points
in the methods now employed IA build
ing and preserving French roads
Divisions and Classification in France
In France the ways OF cnmmnnica
ton are divided into three classes, o.
follows. First, national or ate roads
constructed and maintained 10y TN
state: second, department roads entire
~ at the charge Of the departments
aud. third. township roads when
though constructed by the communes
receive in most eases support eithe
from the state or from tue uep'ti siAieA''
for their maintenance.
The national roads radiating iron
Paris communicate with all the impor
tant cities and the departments IN TN
country. They arc placed under tn
Jurisdiction 81 the points ct chanssee
(dcpnrtment OF bridges and roads,
which ia attached TO the bureau of tn
minister OF public works The secon,
and third class OF roads from network
over the country and are under IN
supervision. in general way, of Tn
projects and mayors. However, IN mos
departments these roads. too, are ais
intrusted to the care Of the points q
chaussces
Further. there exists in towns Of
certain Importance municipal roa'
servi q, the business of which is TO con
struct and maintain streets and road
within the limits of the city,
Legal Prclimiuaries. For the con
struction OF q road two principal opei
atoms are required, viz; First, the 10,
nation o the bed Of the road Ms WEI
as tho construction of the water way
and bridges when necessary; second
,hc ,n.lfinp Of the road with pawn