The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1896-07-14

reasons for this. First, With the
building OF stone roads, they have
permanent, hard, smooth surfaces
and comparatively level roads all the
year round on which they can drive
at will, by day or by night and
under all conditions of weather. The
roads there are the same yesterday,
to-day and to morrow. They have
been tested by long use and have
been found great blessing to the
country, and renders the farmers
independent carriers and brings them
nearer to the markets and social
centers.
But there is another reason, of less
Importance, yet of greater weight,
with the eastern people IN bonding
themselves for the building of these
roads-by careful comparison and
long experience they have found that
the macadam or stone roads are
cheaper than the old dirt roads.
Human nature is the Sc ne the world
over and seltishness abounds where
man is found. The eastern people are
no exception to the rule. They are
selfish, money making and penurious,
so to speak, much more so than they
are in the west, and here is where th+.
secret lies They bond themselves
for matchmaking all their main roads
at cost of from three to four thous-
and dollars per mile, because they
have learned by experience that THIS
SYSTEM of ROAD BUILDING is THECHEAP
EST in the end.
Let us take New Jersey, for instance,
New Jersey the banner road state OF
the Union, where road laws are in
keeping with the grand march OF
civilization and stand out as a monu-
ment of the progress and advanced
thought in road improvement OF tie
nation. In that state they have
four ways of securing macadamized
roads: the stat e roads built by the
state connecting the large cities and
important towns; the county roads
built by counties, connecting the inn
portant places in the counties; the
town roads built by the towns, con
sisting of all main travelled highways
and the so called private road.
Space will not permit us to discuss
the road law in detail but suffice it to
say that the securing of the splendid
New Jersey road laws cost untold III.
Dor and the untiring efforts Of many
Of IT'S best citizen and law makers.
But the great object was accom-
plished, the law was passed and now
her citizens are enjoying the blessing
OF those grand country avenues, those
endless streets that connect nearly
every city, village and dwelling in the
state with paved boulevards, on
which the county commerce can be
carried on with great conven ence and
profit, at all seasons OF the year,
where the question OF "How are the
roads" has dropped from their
vocabulary.
In order TO give our readers a. bet
ter understanding OF the plan by
which these roads are built in the
east, we will quote page from the
Gov. rnment Report bulletin No 5 OF
Good Roads, which can be had by
add essing the Secretary of Agricul-
ture, Washington, D. c. 1t will be
Seen by this report that ten years ago
the town of Chester in Burlington
County in the state OF New Jersey
desired to macadam the principal
thoroughfares and Mr.. Burrough and
Mr.. Harrison were bidding on the job
of laying them.
THE REPORT FROM CHESTER.
The farmers had got henotion that
they would bankrupt themselves il
they put down macadam roads. Mr.
Harrison and Mr.. Burrough knew
differently The former told them he
could build roads, import all the
material, and have good results
for So, 500 mile. They laughed at
him. since they had been liven to
underst and that it would cost So, 600
or $1,000 a mile at least. Finally
they told him that they would try
to bond the town for $4,000. Mr..
Harrison could have the sum if he
would build 10 miles of road such as