The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-02-25
FOR HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT.
dow Present Methods May he Changed
For tho General Benefit.

/
| Cow Present Methods May I,e Changed
For the General Benefit.
| Good roads have been considered from
the renotest past accurate and certain
tests of the progress and intelligence of
community. 1t would naturally be
expected as tho 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 ofimprovement. Still, from
the present general condition of many
places i'll this country, it does not appear
that this branch of political economy has
attracted that attention from a 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 is scarcely posi-
bic 10 find excuse for perpetuating it the
sole difficulty in the way of modifying it
probably lies i'll the fact that public at
tention, except i'll very rare instances.
has not been called to it with sufficient
directness and intelligence. 1t has an
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 siovenly manner, and sometimes
not done at ALL
1t Is urged by men who have had ex-
periencc i'll this line that if the money
raised by road tax, OF its equivalent of
labor. should be wisely and economical
ly expended, # the roadlnasters and COM
mlssloners were selected for their fitness
and held accountable for anything short
OF result commensurate to the fullest
with the means placed ut 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 arc made
at long intervals. resulting i'll 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 a direct consequence of
tiit Stclli HOW III 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, it has been
estimated that on slope of l foot in A
feet, or 120 feet to the mile, IL horse can
only draw three-quarters as much as he
can upon level; on slope of 1 in 81.
or 220 feet to the mile, he can ONLY draw
one-half as much, and on slope of in
10, or 52S feet to the mile, only one-ouar-
ter as much
1t will be seen that when either of
these conditions i'll the road exists, if
but once or twice in length of 1 or
10 miles, since the load must be carried
over the whole road, it must be reduced
to what can be carried up the ascent.
Thus, if a slope l to q occurs, as
horse can draw up it only one-half full
load, he must carry over the level parts
OF the road only one-half as much as he
should draw there.
BY reason of defects of surfaces of
level roads. the farmer, at scarcely am
season of the year, is able to derive more
than % per cent of the value of n DAYS
work from his horses or cattle while
making use of the means of communica-
ton existing in his neighborhood. New
York Times.