New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-10-11
ENGLAND'S GOOD ROADS.
HOW THEY ARE KEPT IN ORDEH-A
PRACTICAL COMMENTARY ON THE
BAD ROADS OF AMERICA.
Bath, September II.

series of enhancing pictures 90 be seen In rural
England. the loveliest country IN the world. l
now bracket the two sections together. with
somersetshire slightly underlined as sign vi
preference. There is the same sense oil fcpoSe
and symmetry that comes from perlecuoh vi
detail; there is equal refinement of landscape ART
without traces of neglect carelessness or lack
of harmony: there are the same vistas OF pictui-
esoue villages. stately trees. broad sweeps of
meadows Towering hedge rows and winding
lanes: but the prospects are broader and more
varied the towns and villages are more interest
ing in detail and the whole region has the more
distinct effect of a continuous park planned by
landscape gardener who has been inspired NY the
poetry Of his art.
Now there is a prosaic reason for this general
effect 81 parklikc verdure and perfection- IL Is
the transformation Of farming into pastnraee
land which has been caused by agri1 uitural de-
nression This effect is noticeable throughout
England. but il Is especially prominent III
Devonshire Wiltshire and SOmersetshire Great
areas which formerly under cultivation
for wheat and general crops. are new used eN-
Clusively for grazing. In the course or the long
drive which / have described ] could almost
rave counted on my fingers the number Of fields
under tjllage In every direction, AS far as the
eve could see were broad sweeps of meadow and
growing crop. American competition while 1t
has curtaiIed the resources of English farmers,
has vastly increased the picturesqueness OF their
rural scenery. \ country which is mainly en-
pioyed for grazing is more beautiful to the eye
than one which is broken up into small farms
with fields under cultivation for various crops
II is what Mr.. Whistler would term symphony
OF green which delights the eye from the crests
of the Somersetshre hills. 1t is vast eNpanse
Of meadowland verdure. with here and there a
slope frightened with heather or gorse or deep
Yavine a1ame with wild peoples. Beautiful IN
May when the pink bloom is on the chestnuts
and the hawthorn is bursting into flower 10
match the golden tints Of the laburnum. II is
lovely also in mid-September after the rams,
when the trees have a soft. velvety sheen. and
on every cottage side and hedge wall the Nir-
gina creeper has burned itself red.
There are two other details which tend TO
intensity the park effects of English rural seen
cry One IS the planting Of trees IN meadows,
where they are artistcally grouped and con-
trasted. Sometimes the clumps are OF oak wal
nut ash. and again there Is a short nle OF
poplars or if the ground be low AT the bottom OF
a hillside there are silver willows shimmering
where the turf Is greenest. There are few tree
less meadows and pastures among the Nils or
Somerset and the care that is taken TO group
the trees Alright suggests the forethought Of the
landscape artist. There are also the finest roads
10 be found anywhere in the world and there Is
nothing TO disfigure them. There no bitches
at the side: there are ruts and pools in the
centre: there ia no waysde litter. and the fences
are either stone walls covered with vines. or
neatly trimmed hedgerows. The commonest Eng
,isb road Is evenly bordered with turf, and is
kept in such perfect order that 1t might he
claimed nv the weathiest land baron as an
ornamental drive on his ancestral estate.
WHY ENGLISH ROADS ARE PERFECT
General Roy Stone. in the course Of an excel
lent address delivered before n body of American
educators at Buffalo, asserted that hish-cass
,echnical knowledge was not required for mastery
az the ar of road construction and repair, and
exnressed the belief that the great need Of our
country roads in the United States is daily care
He estimated that S4OW0000 expended
every year In repairs without material improve
,nant OF the roads have no means of verifying
this estimate. nor Is confirmation needed, since
he Is a recognized authority on the subject; but
] have no hesitation In declaring that the secret
Of the perfect condition in which Englsh ROADS
are found at all seasons of the year is unremitthg
care in keeping them in order Some OF inc roads
leading ont Of Bath were originally made by the
Romans and all the other highways, whether old
or new are of scientific construction with deep
foundations and ample provision for drainage;
but neither antiquity nor the roadmaker's art
would protect them # they did not receive con-
slant supervision and daily care.
One Of the most important functions or local
government in England is systematic oversight
81 the roads Every County Council has stand
ing Committee Roads. which takes charge or
the highways and keeps them in repair at the
ho X "A
one. and is subdivided into series Of small com
nittees. each with it's own district. There is an
inspector for every division of the county, and
he employs a force Of roadmenders and holds
then responsibc for the sections of road assigned
"a them The roadmender lives in cottage on
the line Of the highway which he Is required to
keep in order, and he is constantly at work he ls
AT once a scavenger and roadiaender he goes
over the road every day and removes IN BAR
row everything that is unsightly. AFTER heaVy
rain his trained eye detects signs Of wear AT
minis where the water does not drain of rapid
". and ne mends the break and restores the level
by dumping a load Of flint where 1t Is needed Sup
plies of material for roadmending are IN reserve
every half mile. where flint has been carted
nroken IN and left for his use. He watches his
section Of road all the year round, and Keeps "
neat. tidy. free from litter and in perfect repair
and he receives sharp warning from the IN
spector IL he neglects his work
This Ia the English system, and II may he rec
commended to American reformers for efficiency
and economy I observe that Mr. Stone advises
the organization Of road leagues among older
schooaboys, and their employment as road repair
ers with tools and carts supplied by the local au
thorities 1t is not work for schoolboys. but foi
a trained force of roadmen hired for the pur
pose constantly employed and required to clear
the highways well as to fiji up the ruts and tC
restore the broken grades. School-teachers coult
undoubtedly do much to interest the rising gener
alton in this greatly needed reform; but amateur