The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1895-05-09

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stones Of the state. Experiments
of this kind are carried on at Hnr-
ward university in the Lawrence Sol
: entiic school, whose dean, Prof. NJ.
S. Shaler, is a member Of the high
way commission. The chief aim ar
| these inquiries has been to determine
the qualities which constitute the ht.
ness for the ~road.making. This will
be of value to the commission In en-
abling them to utilize the road ma
terial near at hand, and thus lessen
the cost of construction. As tbis
phase of work progresses maps are
made showing the location Of all de-
posts suitable for road building.
A numoer of towns have already
appropriated money to build their
streets in the same careful manner an
til ose constructed by the state, and
Others have purchased road ma.
chinery with the intention OF ex-
tending the work on roads other than
state highways.
Careful consideration has been
given to the plan of planting shlde
trees along the highways. With
this end in view, experts have b@n'
consulted concerning the best vaae-
ties for the purpose, and the wayste
trees have been examined, SO as I'd
determine the species well adapted
to the climate and soil of Massacla.
sets.
AS the estimated expense of pro.
curing and planting these trees is not
less than one half a million dollars,
the commission has rightly made this
question secondary to road build ng
but in the meantime they are collect.
ing such data as will enable them to
work with profit on the adornment Of
tue roads after the construction is
well in hand. The American and
English elns have the advantage of
fairly rapid growth, with shade ligh
above ground, and the leaves falling
from them give but little obstrlc-
ton to the CUTTERS. They have the
disadvantage of being subject to the
attacks of insects, so that the cos; of
protecting them from these pests
would be considerable. Naples g-ow
we'll and are beautiful, though tley
often shade the road too much. H.
is the custom in parts of Europe to
plant the roadsides with trees which
yield profitable crops. In France
and Germany, for example, cherry
trees abound. In these counties
the yield of the wayside trees be.
longs to the neighboring land owners,
but in some cases to the community,
and their product is well guarded
by law. There will be more or less
| experimenting on the part of the
commission before they decide upon
the species to be planted. The law
provides for the beginning of this
work in the spring Of 1895, and from
that time it will be carried on slowly,
so as to give US the brneit of expe-
rience.
Every state should make u begin.
ming on road improvement. In
thinly. settled regious of the country,
where the people do not feel able TO
undertake much, they can do no bet
ter than to start the reform by con-
structing sections of single.track
roads. No community can afford to
neglect the common roadways. Our
prosperity is too intimately connect.
ed with the facilities for communca-
ton.
have spent many thousands of
dollars in inauguraling and advancing
this reform, and continue to take an
active part in it, though for a long
time l have not addressed you or
the subject.
The interest is now general and the
leaders numerous, consequently there
is a demand for road news, more
especially for the recent advance
ments In the line OF actual expert
ence.
Here is what we have done In The
Old Bay State. Win you not pub
lsh it, or a portion Of it, for tile
benefit of your readers, many Of
whom, without doubt, are directly or
indirectly connected with or inter.
ested in the development of the
cause? j
Ii you give space to this impor-
LIANT matter | would appreciate IT,.
Very truly yours,
ALBERT A. POPE. |
Boston, Mass, April Is, 1895.