Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-05-10
WILL The LESSON BE Heeoeoi
When the Mud Of Winter Has Departed
tic IaImnr Inrgel. IL

the Farmer Iorgets It,
The mud has dried up, and once more
the rural dwcllcr energies from his re-
tircmcut and cheertully drives o. town
over roads now firm and smooth. Not
through any effort OF hi, however, have
the highways been changed from bog
holes and quagmircs into paths of
ease. The rain fell and staid where it
Tell, because there was no provision
made To get rid of il in any other way
than by evaporation. ltwould bc in the
road yet but for the genial spring sun,
and so il has been and seems likely 70
be, for all the farmer seems 60 care.
Why not always travel iii comfort, 10
matter what tine season OF the year!
Why forget now that no longer ago than
April You could only with the greatest
difficulty manage 20 traverse what was
and will be again a dreary stretch Of
mud?
VIII the experience of past years of
toll and veXatiOn OF animals ruined, Of
harness broken and wagons wrecked,
not suffice to awaken men to the bene-
fits of roadways constructed TO with
stand the frosts and SHOWS of winter
and present an unyielding surface TO the
heaviest rains of spring.
one Of the strongest arguments IN IA
vor Of macadam, telford or any paved
highways is that in not a single in
stance where they have been tried would
the residents Of that locality return TO
the dirt road In no community has
e, -. =
ton at the changed conditions. Their
benefits are so speedily realized and
their worth SO early apparent that
whilom detractOrs are fain TO sing their
praise.
Fear Of cost in construction has no
doubt great deal 10 do with retarding
the good roads movement. But it has
been shown in almost every instance
that the cost does not greatly exceed
that of the present slipshod and hap
hazard manner Of building and repair
ing country roads. Roy Stone, III New
Roads and Road Laws, says Of Ontario
county, \. Y:
within the last 30 years there have
been expended on the highways in this
country over 81 200 per mile, and, with
the exception of a few miles in the town
of Canandaigua, they are no better than
they were at the beginning Of that pc
Rod, and should the same system be
continued for the next 30 years a like
sum would have been expended, and the
condition of the highways would be just
about the same rs il l. now. The few
miles referred % in Canandaigua are
crushed stone or macadam roads, built
at an expense 20 the town outside Of the
regular highway tax. A. a result, they
have in that town 10 miles or more Of
good roads, and SO we'll pleased are they
with the improvement that they have
had a special act passed by the legisla-
ture, during the last session, empower
ing the town 70 vote upon the question
Of expanding -, 600 per year in addi-
tion 70 the So, 900 already allowed by
law, in building such roads Those
roads are just as good in December or
March as they are in July or September.
They have increased the value of the adj
joining farms many times the cost Of the
roads, and the subsequent cost Of keep
ing them III good repair will be p9ch
less than the cost Under the ordinary
system of keeping poor roads in poor re-
pair
The question of cost, therefore, is no
argument against permanent stone
roads. as the money thus expended is re-
turned many times over, not alone III
enhanced property values, but in the
ability Of ~. producer to sell his grain
or stock When prices suit, he no longer
being dependent upon condition Of
weather and roads TO place them on the
market. w. Il BALLINGER.