The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1895-08-30

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 1t up, and, lol under it 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 a stranger in
these parts. But whether stranger
|or no. he was polite man. He at
once begged the other mans pardon
for thus unceremoniously taking off
his hat, and concluded his apology by
asking if he couldn't be of some assist
ance. "Oh, no, indeed" replied the
other, cheerfully. I'm all right. I've
got good horse under under me-"
] hope we are Oh the eve or the morn.
ing of new day in the matter of coun-
try roads. Everywhere the good
roads" agitation appears to be spread
Eng and making friends; but unless we
lean have state supervision and aid in
making and maintaining country high
4 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. 1t is a matter
ri great difficulty to get a town to go
INTO any radical scheme of road i'm
rovement, because of the cost involved.
Most of our country roads are now
Fetchedly handled as regards annual
kpairs-not altogether because of lack
81 means to make proper repairs,
Enough there is rarely sufficient money
appropriated by the towns to keep the
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
Downs 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
Fnd tell him to go ahead and build a
barn for the farm? He would be con-
kdered crazy. And yet the towns put
honey or its equivalent into the hands
tmen who haven't the first idea as to
rdmaking, and tell them to go ahead
81 repair the highways! The result
Papparent TO everyone who rides five
niles through the country. 1t is an
and wretched system.
The remedy? Well, there are a num-
per of remedies; but until we can
bave state construction and state super
Fision of highways (which ought then
10 insure intelligent work., the only
thiug that can be done, so far as can
bee, is to keep up the agitation for
better roads, and at the same time try
70 get more intelligence into present
methods What is needed is simple and
concise directions as to the best man
per of preparing roads under present
Conditions, and the bringing of this
Instruction home to the men who need
~. 1t is useless to talk to the average
country town of Telford construction,
pr any other construction which in
Wolves much greater outlay than that
which is represented by present ex-
|fenditures. The practical thing now
IS to secure wise use of the road
sads, that are being wasted because
pi incompetence.
How shall this be brought about? I
would suggest that through the farm
r' Institutes, grange lectures and
amers' club meetings the matter can
Nbrought directly to the farmers and
paw country people who have to do
With the road repairing. Let us have
Expert lecturers (men who will not talk
p'er the heads of their hearers) on this
uoject, as we have expert lecturers on
parry and other topics, and let them
!asefully and patiently explain to their
bearers just how they can best use the
materials at hand. Let our agricul-
Fusal colleges have course of lectures
Pr this subject in their short winter
courses that are now attended by many
progressive young farmers. Get a
l'le Of the leaven of good sense in
osd repairing into each one of the
towns, and it will spread. Rock
Ssliasted roads are all right and very
sslrable; but until we get them
e' us stop wasting road money,
ina get the best results possible with
'ue present expenditure. Such results
m1uid be far and away ahead OF any
lainV that the average country town
aas now to show for the money 1t an.
rually spends.-Webb Donnell, In
country Gentleman.