The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-08-21
TO MAKE GOOD ROADS.
THE GOVERNMENT UNDERTAKES TO
TEACH THE ART.

TEACH THE ART.
An Experiment Now Under way IN NC"
,Jecsey-Intanled to Benefit Suburban
Highways instruction in the Govern
nnent's Methods of Eaad-f'uilding'
Few persons knpw that the United
States government HAS begun to in
struct the citizens Of this country in
the art Of bodybuilding. This is a
fact, however, and the first expert
ment of the sort is being tried at New
Brunswick, New Jersey town not
far from New York city, known to
fame as the seat of Rutgers college.
Not so many months ago an appro-
priation was put through congress at
q rapid gait. The bill making the ap-
preparation provided ostensibly that
only in places where what are known
as the State experiment stations are
located, should the government show
the people how to build roads. It
seems, however, according to the De-
troit Free Press, that the bill was
rather loosely constructed, and so it
happens that any place that goes
through the proper formula and I'M
winds sufficient yards of red tape may
learn all about building the right sort
of roads according to government
ideas.
The experiments do not consist in
building the roads Of an entire village
or town, but the men who have the
matter in charge select section OF
what seems to them the most convent
ent throughfare to illustrate the ideas
it hopes to impress upon that portion
Of the American people that has to do
with the building Of highways. While
the bill making the appropriation
provides that the work shall be done
at government expense, there is q re-
servation in this regard which might
| be overlooked by the enthusiast until
| too late. It is this: That the gov
ernment shall furnish crushers, roll
ers and carts, but that the township,
village or town or city shall furnish
the labor and ma .erial.
As matter Of fact, the idea is not
intended for the benefit Of the city at
all. The promoters of the plan be-
lieved that the cities should surely be
able to take care of their own roads as
we'll as employ men who understand
thoroughly the art Of building them.
It is the ordinary highway Of subur-
ban civilization at which the bill is
aimed. No reasonable person expects
asphalt pavements in q wilderness, but
there is nothing unreasonable in think
ing that at least a road when made at
all should be made we'll The COM
plant that has gone forth is that the
rural d-builler is not al expert in
the art, and so the government is go
ing to send mcn who know all about
it to teach him the knowledge that he
lacks.
With the aid that the government
furnishes the road building expert.
ment will prove no additional expense
to the communities where it is tried
The material and the labor are usually
the cheapest'elements in the matter o.
constructing roads. It is the first
class implement needed to bring the
highways to a moderate degree Of per
lection that costs money and makes
the taxpayers groan. In the super
latively rural community the roads are
generally made by the citizens them
selves and their hired men," Tni:
is known as working out the highwa,
tax. Therefore the community itsel
would receive no money in any event
but simply the labor of the person
taxed or his representative, at the rat'
Of what is considered a fair compen
sation for such tasks.
These facts were realized by tn
whee]lnen who were behind the move
ment that is giving practical results
It is, they claim, merely the diversion
of labor from work that hal accom-
plished small good to work that vii
accomplish great good. They holt
that there is no necessity Of the deepl.
rutted and the literally sluicel roa'
that one meets with SO often outsid
) the village and sometimes inside. ]
, is, they say, like the difference betwee,
a man who knows how to sail boa
, and one who is making trouble 70
: himself. The one who does has
, very comfortable time of it.
0 There is q good roads department c
: the department. Of agriculture. It
? this portion Of the government tina
has the road building matter in charge
Professor E. 3. Voorhees, has charg
. Of the New jersey state experime1
:. station in New Brunswick. He va
: the first one to petition for the build
$ ing Of section of road by the COY
: eminent. The matter was placed i
q charge OF f. B. Harrison, q speci:
agent of the good roads department
J and he was sent to New Brunswick t