The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-01-23

points, for every one knows them.
will mention only one, and that is the
smooth, hard paths II 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 II wet or damp.
When the road-machines came into
use, nobody had thought of bicycles.
a 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. III
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 20 cut mp the paths in
which they have to travel continuously.
The modern road-ihachines, where
rsed for some time, have bad 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 Oft at the sides, as IL should do, in
stead of following ruts, as formerly.
i know n certain hin road extending 10
the railroad station that was always
bad. It's surface was broad. stony anil
full of ruts. The wheeled scraper has
made IL the model road Of the township.
and the district is proud OF it. There
was n very steep, ascending grade from
hollow ten rods from the railroad
track, with n knoll at one side. The road
tax for the year had been worked out;
but Notwithstanding. as the spirit of
improvement was on. neghbors yolun-
teered and spent nearly two days with
teams and tools, and removed the most
of thnt bank into the road where IL
ought 10 be. \ neighbor who could not
work gave necessary drain-tile. The
railroad company, not TO be outdonc I'm
public spirit, furnished seven carloads
of gravel, and men 10 handle IL, and
now the grade is easy and the surface
graveled. This is recited 20 show that
the spirit of improvement is contagious.
fected.
A few years ago the legislature OF
New York passed an act requiring
pathmasters 10 remove the loose stones
from 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
forescen. Now, IL one thing more than
another troubles the bicyclist. Il Is
small, round, loose stones i'm the path;
but as rule the roadmasters arc very
delinquentin performing the prescribed
duty of removing them. As hint 20
bicyclsts. | know OF several cases
where whcclmen have told pathmasters
that unless they attended TO this duty
properly, they would be complained Of.
adding by wa3 OF emphasis that II any
loose stone in the track. even the small
est. should be the means Of throwing
and injuring rider, damages could be
collected either OF them or OF the town
ship. This sets them 10 thinking. and
they generally conclude that their
safety lies In keeping the track clear OF
these distractions. II horse stumble
over q loose stone and break his leg.
somebody would be liable for damagcs
and so would they II bicyclist should
take "a header" over n loose stone and
receive an injury In consequencc. 4
Gaien Wilson. in Farm and rireside.