The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-07-25

| terrible disadvantage we are pIiclllS "ir'
selves IN the struggle for economical pro
duction and evelopmcnt:
% On paved roads the traction need
ed to move a loaded wagon is 33 pounds
| per ton.
~ On macadam roads the traction
needed to move loaded wagon rs u
pounds per ton.
C3) On dirt roads in good order, the
traction needed to move loaded wagon
is 20 pounds per ton.
al On soft land the traction needed
10 move a loaded wagon is 30 pounds per
ton. .,
Now. the pull Of a horse working al
day has been estimated to be about 10
pounds. Then a good animal can move on
a level, including the vehicle
Ona paved road, about toms.
On macadam, toms.
On good dirt road, | 81 tons.
On soft Land, a little over ~ ton.
The last is a case of begging down in
an empty ambulance.
Let us get these figures into our heads
for what they actually mean. They show
that any horse or mule hauling load on
the roads of any country that has sys-
TEN of highways is doing from two ITO
six times as much work as a similar ami
mai is doing for us day by day. This is
o most unreasonable handicap to put up
with.
The experiments of Norm in France
corroborate the above figures very exact
ly, and nothing further than an additional
testimony is to he gained by quoting them
at length.
Having said This much with view to
insist ON the necessity of this oOntem-
plated reform let us discuss the question
20 1,,, oh ln1lp bo
least time and with the best economy.
And by economy, | mean the best results
at the least cost. We have Ito solve each
of the following divisions of the problem:
~ Legislation.
(2) Construction.
(3) Maintenance.
1t may, | think, be granted that the rail
ways have superseded the necessity of
the National roads which were such
burning question in the politics of the first
quarter of the century. There remain
then the State and county to consider.
The present law has by common consent
Outlived its usefulness.
Perhaps the keystone of the success of
any new general law is the principle that
henceforth no road tax shall be paid by
labor. / believe that This lis the mature
opinion of some of the ahlest men in
Texas, both i'm public and private life.
Many years ago | remember being call
ed to work the roads in
Gonzales county. 1 went pre-
pared in n humble way with a
Ratchet, thinking perhaps that others
might bring picks and ShOvels. There
were about 30 of us at the rendezvous, and
at least half were provided with axes or
hatchets. During the day we moved
about half dozen yards of sand into the
washOut and cut a little brush to protect
the place.
We snapped yarns and traded horses,
ran two or three races. and had altogether
a very good time, and one which | often
think of with pleasure from the point of
view of a picnic. 1t must be confessed
that the day was innocent of serious
road making, although in truth there was
plenty to be done. Our inefficient work
was not at all exceptional for although
have never worked the roads since, |
have often run across a crowd doing just
rs | have described above.
A general road law has been repeatedly
recommended by our governors in their
message to the Legislature. and if | re-
member rightly one was very nearly pass
ed by the Twenty-frst. q.
Some independent work has recently
been done by the counties, and local laws
lature affecting Fannin. Dallas, Lamar,
Medina, and l think others. These acts
were long steps in the right direction and
show the growth of an itelligent public
opinion in the interest of this reform.
When general Legislation is had, there
will probably be some differences of opin-
ion as to what share the State shall take
in the work. 1t may be urged that State
roads are no more needed than National,
and that the road building of the future
should remain entirely in the hands of
county officers, ms being matter of
purely local concern.
Still it would seem the part of wisdom
TO have our highways laid out as part of
some general system. We are, after all,
citizens of the same State, and even the
most loyal advocate of home rule must
deprecate the possible hack of roads in a
country where intelligent minority needs
| them every day. We have in many things
recognized the rights of minoritics, and a
majority welding the authority of the
State might perhaps not improperly in
Sist ON the construction of roads of GER
tain standard between country seats of a
given population. This is a delicate
phase of the question, and its solution
| depends upon how completely it is rccOg.
niZed as being Il matter of general neceS
Sity and concern to the whole people.
| Whether the State takes direct action
or not. it has been suggested that II
should in any case reserve certain rights
lof approval and supervision as to design
construction and maintenance, and partlc
ularly in the matter of cost and bonds
| If this he done, the provision of the law
should be undoubtedly extended to count!
bridges. Under the present system tn,
best intmtioned board of commissioner
is greatly at the mercy of designing men
when in the public interest they shoult
he in position to be consulting designers
IOur bridges have often been sold to Il
with less knowledge on our part of wha
we are getting than a private citizen or
dinarly brings to the question of buyln
Il horse.
The foregoing suggestions necesSaril
imply the creation of State board q
highways and bridges. and althoug
/. everybody ism aturllly opposed TO the mu
tip,ication of functions and functionarie
believe that this is branch of admins
trative activity which would very quick
repay its cost.
y If it be found after mature diScuSsio
! that the State is not to take up the MATTE
directly. then sound public Scmtimer
/ must be worked up in the counties; OF
= commissioners must be pledged to puS
n the question to the front, and by elcctin
the right men, our county government vi
make very good highway board. havin