The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1895-04-20
STUCK IN THE MUD.

q New England road, where the spring
zephyrs had been playing havoc with
the footing" The traveller was pick
ing his way cautiously along when he
spied a hat lying in the middle Of the
road, and involuntarily he stopped and
picked it up, and lol under II was the
top of mans head just protruding
from the surface of the mire. The
story states that the traveller was much
astonished, which proves TO my mind
that he must have been stranger in
these parts. But whether stranger
or no, he was polite man. He at
once begged the other mans pardon
for thus unceremoriously taking off
his hat, and concluded his apology by
asking IL he couldn't be of some assist
ance. "Oh, no, indeed" replied the
other, cheerfully. I'm all right. I've
got good hofse under mel"
hope we are on the eve or the morn
ing of new day in the matter of coun-
try roads. Everywhere the good
roads" agitation appears 20 be spread
ing and making friends; but unless we
can have state supervision and aid in
making and maintaining country high
ways fear that the great body Of these
roads will still be subject TO liquidation
at the annual occurrence of spring
weather, and, for that matter, after
every summer shower. IL Is a matter
of great difficulty To get n town 10 go
into any radical scheme of road inn
provement. because of the cost involved.
The only chance, SO far as can see,
for the friends of road improvement Co
effect any radical betterment in the
highways OF their own vicinity is by
securing n more intelligent direction
of the labor that is now expended upon
them.
Most of our country roads are now
wretchedly handled as regards annual
repairs-not altogether because Of lack
of means TO make proper repairs,
though there is rarely sufficient money
appropriated by the towns 10 keep tho
highways in best shape, but because
those in charge of road repairs have no
proper conception of the way repairs
should be made. No private individual
would conduct his business as our
towns manage this matter OF the high
ways. What would be thought of the
farmer who would call in bank clerk,
put thousand dollars into his hand
and tell him to go ahead and build a
barn for the farm2 He would be con-
sidered crazy. And yet the towns put
money or its equivalent into the hands
of men who haven't the first idea as to
roadmalsing. and tell them to go ahead
and repair the highways The result
IS apparent TO everyone who rides five
miles through the country. IL is an
unbusinesslilSe and wretched system.
The remedy Well, there are n num-
Der of remedies; but until we can
have state construction and state super
vision of highways (which ought then
10 insure intelligent work., the only
thing that can be done, SO far as can
see, IS 10 keep up the agitation for
better roads, and ut the same time try
20 get more intelligence into present
methods. What Is needed Is simple and
concise directions as TO the best man
ner of preparing roads under present
conditions, and the bringing OF this
instruction home 20 the men who need
Il. IL Is useless TO talk 20 the average
country town Of Telford construction,
or any other construction which In
wolves n much greater outlay than that
which Is represented by present ex-
penditures. The practical thing now
Is 20 secure wise use OF the road
funds, that are being wasted because
OF incompetence.
How shall this be brought about? /
would suggest that through the farm
ers' institutes, grange lectures and
farmers club meetings the matter can
be brought directly TO the farmers and
other country people who have 20 do
with the road repairing. Let us have
expert lecturers (men who will not talk
over the heads OF their hearers) on this
subject, 30 we have expert lecturers on
dairy and other topics aud let them
carefully and patiently explain 10 their
hearers just how they can best use the
materials at hand. Let our agricul-
tural colleges have course OF lectures
on this subject In their short winter
courses that arc now attended by many
progressive young farmers. Get n
little % the lcaven Of good Eense In
road repairing into each one OF the
towns. and II viii spread. Rock
ballasted roads are nll right and very
desirable; but until we get them
let us stop wasting road money.
and get the best results possible with
the present expenditure. Such results
would DE far and away ahead Of any,
tAipg that the average country town
has now 20 show for the money II an
nunlly spends. Webb Donnell, In
Country Gentleman