Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1897-10-15
AGRICULTURAL HINTS
A FARMERS ARGUMENT.
He Takes n Really Sensible stand ON
the Road Question.

III we study social and hnanciai ques-
tons we find that, to great extent,
we fall over the stones we ourselves
have laid in the way. There is no end
of fault-fnding - and justly so - over
the money sharks, the combines, the
greediness Of public officials and poll
ticians. There is no doubt that these,
collectively in many instances, get fully
one-half of the peoples earnings. VI
the remaining half one-half of
that is lost to the farmer by
weeds and vermin, by bad financial
management, and by bad roads. These
are the stones he lays in his own way,
o. allows TO lie there 10 stumble over.
The farmers themselves are princi-
pnlly to blame for the poor and misera-
BILE condition of our country roads.
The way of maintaining these roads Is
about the same that was customary in
our colonial times, when any road was
good enough, if rocks, stumps or holes
did not make them entirely impossible
for vehicles. 1t is very likely that more
attention would have been paid to our
country roads were it not for the intro
duction of railroads. What the rail-
roads are for traffic on large scale, so
are our country roads for traffic on u
small scale-alike beneficial to all peo-
pie. 1t is fact that railroads haul
cheaper, and is 1t not fact that rail-
roads cost more? Is 1t not, likewise, a
fact that railroads earn enormous
riches out Of the people by hauling for
the people?
Now, If the farmer could haul his
produce at half the present cost, how
much would that save him? do not
know, some one may answer. Well, If
] did not see the railroads l would not
either. But the fact is, If we had good
wagon roads all the year round, the
hauling would not cost half what 1t
costs now, besides the quicker trip and
bigger load, and man, team, harness
and wagon would last longer. The
price for the load hauled would be bet
ter in winter and early spring than in
midsummer, when team and man are
nearly suffocated by dust, and when
they ought to be at home cultivating
corn and potatoes; cleaning up around
the hog house and yard, and making
numerous other improvements.
The country road question is gener-
ally misconceived; therefore, INSULT
GENTLY discussed, and will not be solved
satisfactorily by old ways and means.
Instead of treating it as a question OF
national economy, it is regarded as a
local matter, for which there is great
lack of comprehension, or of means to
solve or carry it out. In the far west
where the settlers build their homes
far apart, nobody thought of arranging
or maintaining regular roads. All road
making was confined to poorly, pass.
abe approaches to the railroads; very
often, however, they found what q
great damage an impossible road is. A
great deal has been written about how
to make farmers comprehend that it is
| in their own interest to maintain good
roads. But it would seem to be all in
vain.
Farmers are averse to the cost OF
constructing durable roads and not far
sighted enough to see the benefits they
would derive from il. That the cost oil
constructing such road is consider
able, may be comprehended by every
body; but that it is as high as generally
supposed is mistake, and this seems tc
be the main reason that so little has
been accomplished in this direction
OF course, the roads are repaired every
year according to the nature and con
dition of the soil. Gravel will produce
the best and cheapest roads; but Is
squandered in many places. We OTTER
see gravel put in places where the road
is not sufficiently graded. There is
mixed with the water inholes to musf
and entirely disappears in few years
In many places gravel and stones are
not to be had. In such cases the largest
holes in the road are annually filled
with dirt, by pillow and scraper. ant
then left alone till the next year, ant
so ad -infnitum. Here wide wager
wheels would be better than narrow
ones; IL Is not to be wondered that thu
roads grow from bad to worse in som,
places.
The manner in which roads in Wis
consin have been maintained for man,
years is not correct one, nor is thu
system of roadmasters. 1t should have
been abolished long ago. These road
masters are elected by reclamation
whether the man is competent to earl
his salary or not; influence conquers
and often the beer-glass decides tn
elect somebody who does not want
and does not care for the Office. II
some places it Is the rule, when hauling
gravel in payment Of road taxes,to LOAF
on as little as possible. II the road
masters would see that every team
hauled at least one cubic yard, consid
erably more would be accomplished
In some districts where capitalists liv
who do not work their road taxes them
selves the cash is collected by road
masters who promised to have tn
taxes worked, but most Of it remain
IN his pocket, or is used to fumigat
or irrigate the throat. A roadmaste
who really and earnestly sees to 1t tina
every tax paper does his duty is seldom
reelected.
If we want good roads we must cleo
men to the legislature who are interes
ed in exacting more suitable law
Things would be much different j
when piece of road is to be made, tn
JOB was entrusted to expert and comp'
tent hands. Every roadmaster shoul
be required to have knowledge {
bridge construction, with tools and tn
proper handling Of the same. In nearl
every state suitable material for tn
s+ruof;on Of rrood y.na6c NAV \