The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-18
Shakespeare ana Bucl.haIter.

When we mean to build,
We first survey the plot, chen draw the
model;
And when we have seen the figure of the
Then must We rate the cost of the cree
ton. tJ
k Henry Nv.
The wisdom Of the immortal Bard of
Avon may be applied even to Chatham
county Improvements. 1t is a long way
from Shakespeare to the county commits
| sioners, but truth is never-ending. The
basis Of common sense three hundred
years ago was the same as is that of the
present. In those old times there were
Dogberrys, and the line still fourishes.
There were then persons who imagined
that good looks came by education, and
that education came by nature, and to this
day we have such persons with u.s.
When large sum of money is to be ex-
pended. whether it be ones own or belongs
TO others, the first thing to be considered
is the end to be attained, and then the
process of achieving that end. In carry
ing out works of MISUNDERSTANDING
systems of good roads and systems of
drainage-there should be no haphazard,
hit-or-miss. happy go-lucky scheme fol-
lowed. The plot should first be surveyed
and the model drawn" by competent per-
sons, and a scientific plan followed to Its
conclusion. In building good roads the
plans should embrace drainage and grad
ing as well as hardening. The foundation
Of a roadway is as important as the foun-
dalton of a house.
A man may be quite experienced in run
ming a saw MILL building houses. OF pub
fishing a newspaper, and at the same time
be deficient in knowledge of practical civil
engineering and the building of drainage
systems and improved highways. His ex-
perience in the special line of his nfes
work does not serve him in an altogether
different line of work, except in a general
way as a manager. This being true. wis
dom would suggest that when good roads
| and drainage systems are to be construct
ed competent engineer, or engineers,
should be employed to survey the plot
and draw the model" and that the en-
gineer's plans should be followed out
II is asserted that in nearly every i'm
portant work undertaken lately by the
county commissioners, involving the ex-
| pendlture of thousands OF dollars, the
plans Of the engineers have been either
ignored or only carried out in part. Often
the work is done by rule of thumb" Is
IL a wonder, then, that there has been
poor work. and so little Of even that?
Take some OF the roads lately hardened I;
OF course the bicyclists find them just the
thing, for the time being. The lonesome
darkey with the ox-cart is also pleased
with them. They are. for the present fair
| TO look upon, so long as ones glance is
| confined to the middle OF the road. But
when an expert looks at them he finds
that they are incomplete. Not only are
they lacking In drainage, but IN many
places the natural drainage has actually
been impaired by burrow-pits from which
earth was taken to hll in the roadbed
These pits as a matter OF course, catch
and retain the water from the roadway
and adjoining area.
The roads are, TO be sure, much better
| than dirt roads. Augusta gravel 10 un-
questionably very good and reason
ably cheap paving material: but
/ by the time Il has been put on rOad IN
lChatham county, IL has cost a great deal
more than Il costs In Augusta In en-
| ploying Il, therefore. the roadbeds should
be built as II TO last forever. and that ne
cessarlly involves proper foundations
| grading and drainage, The taxpayers
cannot get the worth OF their money out
OF temporary roads, although they may be
hard and smooth when they are new. Au-
gusta gravel paving costs $500 per mile /:
the ogocchee road, live and quarter
miles. cost $500. These sums are too
large TO be 20 be paid for temporary i'm
/ provemonts
! 10 b. reported that even IN Buckhalter
swamp the same lack OF attention to de.
tall exists and the report seems TO be- cor
roborated by The late attempt 10 dam "a
eide water creek on the plan Of building a
mortar-bed, with the consequent destru-.
zion Of tho work and the loss Of p.o10
worth OF county property. There Is too