The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-15
Special Forenoon Only,
The VIM. II. Block Co.
and 9 e. Washington ST.

the care necessary to its preservation
would defeat its own end. II would be
neglected, and. becoming impaired. would
be a monument 10 wasted capital and a
warning against similar undertakings.
In a country like ours. where the people
rule. they must lead. Reforms cannot be
thrust upon them: they must desire "A
measure before they can value il or care
for II. Before the country people have good
roads they must realize their value and i'm
portance and earnestly demand them. The
natural and only infallible way TO bring
about this end is through education. A gem
Grafton of men taught in the district schools
the advantages and Importance of roads
and the elementary principles of their con-
struction would do more for the advance
ment of good roads than any conceivable
outlay of capital or expenditure of engi-
neering skill, The measures OF a people so
grounded in knowledge would be free from
extravagances and cratic notions. They
would be characterized by an ~evenness. a
patience and earnestness and persistence
necessary To so great an undertaking, but
too seldom manifested I'm the present agita-
ton OF the question by wheelmen, horse
men and engineers out OF employment. 4
EDUCATE THE FARMERS. 4
There is no need of attempting TO tezch
anything too abstruse or difficult for. the
comprehension OF the average country
schoolboy. The history of the development
of roads is full of interest: their economic
and social importance is easily understood.
and introduces many simple questions i'm
0NNN SAO NhNAl III ~ lIt Hu-
pii. Simple apparatus for surveying and
le cling, such as every farmer should have
fo aid in fencing and draining his fields,
co Id be obtained for the schools at slight
expense.
AS a rule. farmers think they cannot af-
ford the expense of employing an able engi-
neer In making road repairs. and so UNDER
take the work themselves. 1t is discourage
ing TO them. having spent a vast amount OF
work on their roads. TO lind that they have
yet no roadbed or foundation 10 work on,
and that what has been done needs to be
undone or made over because OF ignorancs
and miSdirected effort.
Having been instructed i'm the rudiments
OF the science OF road engineering. farmers
would recognize their own ia~adequacy TO
cope with difficult undertakings, and would
see the advisability of securing the services
of "A special road engineer for such work.
Still. with the proper understanding OF the
elementary principles of road building. they
could for ordinary work dispense with the
specialist and Yet radically improve the To-
cal roads. themselves taking charge OF their
steady. gradual, economical end thorough
betterment; first. correcting errors in their
course and grade. then securing perfect
drainage. and finally a suitable superstruc-
tUre, always proceeding on the principle
that a road is a growth. and that one step
must be completed before the next is be-
gun. I'm order to obviate the necessity of CO.
ing back and doing the same work over.
MY idea is, however. not to make civil
engineers. but TO bring the agricultural
community into sympathy with the good
road movement: TO make them leaders I'm n.
TO fit every farmer 10 be "A competent Judge
of the needs of his neighborhood i'm respect
to roads, and give him such Information as
will enable him TO examine and pronounce
upon plans for highway improvements SUBJ
mitted TO him. The subject can he treated
I'm sucnB a clear and simple manner that the
most inefficient teacher can understand and
explain il TO her pupils.
Indiana takes the lead of all the States
west of the Allegheny mountains i'm educa-
tional matters. II would only be consistent
with the progressive spirit that she has all
ready shown If she were TO obtain an act
of the Legislature authorizing instruction
in this branch in the country schools
AT the close of his paper Mr.. Perry In
PRODUCED a resolution stating that instruc-
ton i'm good road building ought TO have
"A place in county schools and omm
ing TO the Legislature the passage OF such
a bill.
The remainder of the evening was en-
ployed i'm informal discussion of problems
which confront trustees. An old gentle
man with snowy hair and beard created a
little diversion by coming forward and an
nouncing that he had an electric machine
which would teach school children more
in a half day about electricity than they
could learn in half a year from textbooks.
BY a vote OF the association he was al
lowed ten minutes TO exhibit his machine
and expatiate on its capabilities as an au-
tomato teacher.
The association adjourned at an early
hour. TO take up its regular order OF BUSH
ness again this morning.