Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1896-11-19

STATEN ISLAND ROAD.
From Good Roads.
NAL, is considered and the cost and
wear and tear Of harness, the economy
is so substantial and so manifest that
no one but a rich man could afford to
longer maintain his stable and buy fod-
der instead Of five gallon cans Of coal
oil or gasoline.
Not only passengers, but freight as
well, will soon seize upon this conyen-
lent means Of transportation. Raising
produce will be very different occupa-
ton when the farmer. instead of crowd
ing ton or 50 CT grain or fruit or pota-
toes into a clumsy wagon and dragging
it over rough roads ty means Of "a pair
or more Of toilworn horses, can place it
in light vehicle, seat himself on com
Portable cushions and bowl over the
road at the rate Of 10 or 20 miles an
hour.
But that road! Aye, there will be The
rub. In the present state Of country
roads, AID even the main highways all
over the country, tie race i Lot by any
means to the swift, and comfort and
'
snaill!ke pace and the careful easing
into chuck holes ana out again. while
the wheels that travel our hvways are So
thumped and ratified over stones and
jagged rocks that even steel tires seen
wear away and must be replaced. 1t
may be positively asserted that nine
tenths of the benefits to be derived from
the introduction Of motor vehicles will
be lost to the people at large through
the condition Of American roads and the
utter impossibility Of using them there
on. Conversely, the whole county
would be benefited and enriched by plac-
ing these roads in good condition.
For the first time in the history Of tho
world conditions are now approaching
which make road construction Eot only
simple ba; permanent matter. The
hoofs Of horses wear away the hardest
and toughest pavements, and even the
deep pressure Of the narrow tires of
heavy trucks and wagons cuts deeply
into the best rounded roads and reduces
the best macadamized pavements to
dust, while the mere tread of human
feet viii wear away stone blocks and
convert thick planks to splinters. The
soft roll Ct the pneumatic tire will
scarcely leave an impression on the soft
path through the woodland, but, on the
contrary, exert merely gentle pressure,
acting as roller, to compress and
harden the earth, making more compact
the surface which 1t passes over. When
road Is once properly rounded and
drained. il might be used by the pneu-
matte tire for 100 wears and be all the
better AT the end Of century of use \
simple top dressing Of macadam, or,
better still. a thin coating Of asphalt in
Its natural state, mixed with sand or
gravel, would make an ideal road for
the new wheels to travel and one which
would endure to the end Of time.
The motor is approaching so swiftly
that the country has 10 time TO lose in
making ready for its reception, Every
dollar that can be spared from the coun-
try S revenues should be applied in this
direction, for no other measure would
so conduce to the nation s welfare and
profit. The United States produces
within her borders almost every ma
terial Of value. 1t has minerals in mex
haustible quantity and variety, II has
oil, coal, wood, for fuel. 1t can raise its
own wool and to spare, its own cotton,
its own ramie, its own flax. 1t produces
grain for the consumption Of the world,
and its supplies of fruit and vegetables,
If properly distri buted. would make its
people the best fed and most comfortable
Of the nations. All that is needed is to
provide for cheap and proper distribu-
ton. To effect this it will not DO
enough to make highway from ocean
to ocean. as has already been proposed,
but equal pains must be taken with ev-
cry crossroad and country lane, with
wagon track that penetrates mountain
canyons or climbs to the heights where
the earth yields up its hidden mineral
resources TO the industrious miner
The institution Ct road improvement
on a wide scale throughout the land
would have a direct beneficial effect
upon the country, promoting internal /
commerce and aiding every producer
within its borders. 1t would have a no !
less beneficial effect upon the people at |
large through the great market for la |
Dor which it would create and the enor-
nous sums " hich it would place in cir !
culation in the hands of the common
people.
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