The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1897-01-01

! Inul, lS COHSlueTeu ana lne COSt anu
wear and tear CT harness, the economy
is so substantial and so manifest that
no ono but rich man could afford to
longer maintain his stable and buy fod-
der instead Of fivo gallon cans Of coal
oil or gasoline.
Not only passengers, hut freight as
well, will soon seizo upon this conven-
lent means Of transportation. Raising
produce will be q very different occupa-
tion when the farmer, instead of crowd
ing ton or so Of grain or fruit or pota-
toes into clumsy wagon and dragging
it over rough roads by means Of pair
| or moro of toilworn horses, can place it
in o light vehicle, Geat himself on COM
Portable cushions and bowl over the
road at tho rate of 10 or 20 miles On
hour.
But that rcadl Aye, there will be the
rub In tho present state of country
roads, and oven the maiu highways all
| over tho country the race is not by any
means to the swift, and comfort and
safety arc often only to be assured by a
snaillike pGco and tho careful easing
into chuck holes and out again, while
the wheels that travel our byways arc SO
thumpod and ratified over stones and
jagged rocks that even steel tires soon
wear away and must bo replaced. II
may be positively asserted that nine
tentbs of tho benefits to DO derived from
tho introduction Of motor vehicles will
be lost to the people ut large through
the condition of American roads and the
utter impossibility of using them there
on. Conversely, tho whole country
would be benefited and enriched by plac-
ing these roads in good condition.
For the first time in the history Of tho
world conditions arc now approaching
which make road construction not only
simple but permanent matter. The
hoofs Of horses wear away tho hardest
and toughest pavcinents, and even the
deep pressure Of tho narrow tires of
heavy trucks and wagons cuts deeply
into the best rounded roads and reduces
tho best macadamized pHvements to
dust, while the nero tread of human
feet will wear away stone blocks and
convert thick planks to splintcrs. Tho
soft roll of tho pneumatic tiro will
scarcely leave an impression on tho soft
path through tho woodland, but, OH tho
contrary, exert merely gentle pressure,
acting as u roller, to compress and
harden the earth, making more compact
the surface which it passes over, When
road is once properly rounded and
drained, it might be used by tho pnou-
matte tire for 100 years and be all the
better at the end of Il century Of use. A
simple top dressing Of maoadam, or,
better still, thin coating Of asphalt In
its natural state, mixed with sand or
gravel, would make an ideal road for
the new wheels to travel and one which
would endure to the end Of timo.
Tho motor is approaching 50 swiftly
that the country has 10 time to lose in
making ready for its reception. Every
dollar that can be spared from the coun-
try's revenues should be applied in this
direction, for no other measure would
so conduco to the nations welfare and
profit The United States produces
within lcr borders almost overy ma
torial of value. II has minerals III mex
haustible quantity and variety. 1t has
oil, coal, wood, for fuel. 1t can raise its
own wool ard 10 spare, its own cotton,
its own ramie, its own flax. 1t produces
grain for the consumption of the world,
und its supplies Of fruit and vegetables,
II properly distributed, would make its
people the best fed and most comfortable
Of the nations. All that is needed is to
provide for cheap and proper distribu-
tion. To effect this it will not be
enough to make a highway from ocean
to ocean, as has already been proposed,
but equal pains must be taken with ov-
cry crossroad and country lane, with
wagon track that penetratos mountain
canyons or climbs to the heights whore
the earth yields up its hidden mineral
resources to tho industrious minor,
The institution Of road impr ,Nement
on wide scale throughout .tho land
would have direct bencG }ial effect
upon the country, promoting internal
commerce aud aiding cvo = producer
within its borders. 1t would have no
less beneficial effect upon tho people at
large through the gre market for Ia
Dor whijh ii would Gre TO and tho eror-
nous sums which it 5ould place in cir
culation in tho ha ids of the common
people.