Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-01-21
DRIVE NEAR MARIETTA, o.

points, for every one knows them. 1
will mention only one, and that is the
smooth, hard paths it makes for pedes-
TRANS at either side of the wagon
track. Otherwise they would have to
travel in the grass and weeds, which is
disagreeable, especially if wet or damp.
When the road-machines came into
use, nobody had thought of bicycles.
\ better machine could not have been
invented, especially for the purpose of
making bicycle paths. What would
bicycling on country roads be now were
the old-style hand road-scrapers still in
use? In removing earth from cutters
into the wagon-track they left two
small ridges along the space they trav-
eled, and these were seldom leveled. If
a wheel could travel them at all, they
would certainly go 'bumpity-bump."
Bicycles rarely have clear course in
travelled wagon-track, for there are
more or less narrow ruts, and horses
feet are apt to cut up the paths in
which they have to travel continuously.
The modern road-machines, where
used for some time, have had the effect
to cut off the shoulders of the roads and
place this dry, solid earth in the center
of the track, picking it up so water will
run off at the sides, as it should do, in
stead of following ruts, as formerly.
I know a certain hill road extending to
the railroad station that was always
bad. Its surface was broad, stony and
full of ruts. The wheeled scraper has
made it the model road of the township,
lo &c -
was a very steep, ascending grade from
a hollow ten rods from the railroad
track, with knoll at one side. The road
tax for the year had been worked out;
but Notwithstanding, as the spirit of
improvement was on, neighbors volun-
teered and spent nearly two days with
teams and tools, and removed the most
of that bank into the road where it
ought to be. \ neighbor who could not
work gave necessary drain-tile. The
railroad company, not to be outdone in
public spirit, furnished seven carloads
of gravel, and. men to handle it, and
now the grade is easy and the surface
graveled. This is recited to show that
the spirit of improvement is contagious,
and when aroused the work will be per
fected.
\ few years ago the legislature of
New York passed an act requiring
pathmasters to remove the loose stones
flom the travelled portions of the high
ways at stated periods. This was also
done before bicycles were invented,
Just as though their advent had been
foreseen. Now, if one thing more than
another troubles the bicyclist, it is
small, round, loose stones in the path;
but as a rule the roadmasters are very
delinquent in performing the prescribed
duty of removing them. AS hint to
bicyclists, I know of several cases
where wheelmen have told pathmasters
that unless they attended to this duty
properly, they would be complained of,
adding by way of emphasis that if any
loose stone in the track, even the small
est. should be the means of throwing
and iniuring rider, damages could be
collected either of them or of the town
ship. This sets them to thinking. and
they generally conclude that their
safety lies in keeping the track clear of
these distractions. If horse stumble
over a loose stone and break his leg,
somebody would be liable for damages,
and so would they if bicyclist should
take "a header over a loose stone and
receive an injury in consequence
Galen Wilson, in Farm and Fireside.