The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-10-16

Supervisory
but the farmer who has to move his
produce to market or place of shipment,
or in the daily prosecution of his work
needs to S e the road, gains or loses
in this direction in accordance with
their good or bad condition.
Good roads in such cases mean the
saving of time, the greater durability
of vehicles and the veal of teams.
Now the farmer, to say nothing of the
others, can afford to pay a fair or lib
eral road tax provided he is assured
that it will be SO expended as to result
in a corresponding improved condition
OF the roads.
Nothing will go so far toward recon-
cling farmers or others TO the paying
of what they might term a large high
way tax, as to find that it is being faith
fully expended, and above all that a
certain amount is devoted to improve
ments of a permanent character each
year. This is evidence that cannot be
overlooked or refuted, but is an ever
present fact, a monument to the skill
ard faithfulness of the intelligent road
maker. We want just all of this kind
of work that can practically be devoted
20 the purpose.
Here in Vermont one-ffth of the tax
for roads is to be put into Improvements
of a permanent character. This is large
ly used in cutting down and lengthen-
ing the grade of hills, or in the build
ing of stone or macadamiZed roads.
What little of this kind of work that
has been done since the new road law
went into effect has proven SO satisfac-
tory hat it makes us wish that the
many years ago, then we should now
have something worth while to show for
the expenditure of so much money.
Here where stone is plenty and not
too far away it costs from four to five
dollars n rod to build a good road.
something that should last many years,
only requiring a little attention in keep
ing the bitches open and the covering
in order.
Taking the worst pieces of road first,
it will soon be found that commendable
progress is being made, as these places
were always requiring attention and
never long in 4 satisfactory condition.
Good drainage for roads should be
sought for, as this is of the first i'm
p~ortance. The bitches should be placed
well back from the roadbed. so as to
prevent undermining OF outlying.
Hills should be carefully looked after
and the grade made as easy as possible
The surface of the road should be some,
what rounded, so that the water may
readily pass off at the sides, rather than
run along on the wheel tracks. washing
away the dirt and forming holes and
gullies. The surface should also be
kept clear of small stones that are al
ways so troublesome. Passing over the
roads once a month for this purpose
should be generally practiced.
Small repairs should always be at
tended to in season., as in this way large
expense can often be saved.
1t will pay TO go two miles, if it can
not be obtained nearer, to get gravel
with which to fill bad places in roads.
In parts of the country where stone
is scarce and gravel can be had, good
roads can be made by using this ma
terial plentifully on the surface. OF
course this means that the roadbed is
first put in good condition for the
gravel. This method is used to some
extent at the west, and even here in
the east where stone abounds. gravel,
where it can be conveniently obtained,
is much priced.
1t is possible that in the future port
able sto~ne-crushing machines will be
largely used in road making in the
country, by mean of which this plenti.
full material can be put to some useful
purposes.
Above all things, it should be the pur.
pose to get the best men possible for the
work of road supervision, and having
obtained them keep them until Others
equally good or better can be found &c
take their places.
In this way, going slowly it may be
but surely forward in the right direc.
ton, the time will not be far distant
when a great improvement in our high.
ways will be apparent all over our land
e. R. Towle, in Farm, Field and Fire
side.