The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1897-10-13

r IA OlSITlCL 0duly III 4Neeu Va N1OOu 1NOoN
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 use 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 wear of teams.
Now the farmer, to say nothing of the
others, can afford to pay 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 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 permanent character each
year. This is evidence that cannot be
overlooked or refuted, but is an ever
present fact, a monument to the skill
and faithfulness of the intelligent road
maker. We want just all of this kind
OF work that can practically be devoted
to the purpose.
Here in Vermont one-fifth of the tax
for roads is to be put into improvements
OF 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 that it makes us wish that the
good work could have been commenced
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 a rod to build good road,
something that should last many years,
only requiring 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 satisfactory condition.
Good drainage for roads should bt
sought for, as this is of the first i'm
portance. The bitches should be placed
we'll back from the roadbed, SO as tc
prevent undermining or outlying.
Hills should be carefully looked aftel
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 thar
run along on the wheel tracks, washing
away the dirt and forming holes ant
gullies. The surface should also b.
kept clear of small stones that are al
ways so troublesome. Passing over th'
roads once month for this purpos
should be more generally practiced.
Small repairs should always be at
tended to in season, as in this way larg
expense can often be saved.
1t will pay to go two miles, if it can
not be obtained nearer, to get grave
with which to fill bad places in roads.
In parts of the country where ston
is scarce and gravel can be had, goo,
roads can be made by using this ma
terial plentifully on the surface. o
course this means that the roadbed
first put in good condition for tn
gravel. This method is used to som
extent at the west, and even here i
the east where stone abounds, grave
where it can be conveniently obtained
IS much priced.
1t is possible that in the future port
able stone-crushing machines will b
largely used in road making in th
country, by means of which this plent
full material can be put to some usefr
purposes.
Above all things, it should be the pul
pose to get the best men possible for th
work of road supervision, and havin
obtained them keep them until other
equally good or better can be found I
take their places.
In this way, going slowly 1t may
but surely forward in the right dire
tApn, the time will not be far distar
when q great improvement in our higl
why's will be apparent all over our LAM
-E. r. Towle, in Farm, Field and Fir
side.