The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-11-16
Good Roads and Country Life.

An unm.stakable demand for good
common roads is being heard in ali
parts of the Uaited States, says Popu-
Lar Science Monthly. This demand is
rapidly growing in volume aud is TAX
ing on the systematic organization
which il essential to the success of
such a movement. That bad roads in
this country cause an enormous loss Of
money each year to those whouse them
may easily be proved, but this fact is
veiled from many persons because they
have never known anything better.
The farmers are the greatest sufferers.
Where wagon wheels sink hub deep in
mud at some seasons, a farmer who has
much hauling to do must keep one or
two more horses than he would need IL
he had only hard, even roads to 90
over, and his loss in the wear and tear
of horse flesh, harness and wagons is a
heavy Tax on his income. It often hap
pens that farmer finds the roads alb
solutely impossible with loaded wag-
on just at a time when bis produce
would bring the highest price if he
could haul it to a railroad, aud he is
forced to wait and take a lower price
later. Livery stable keepers aad all
other owners and users OF horses and
vehicles suffer from bad roads in sim
liar way.
In order to obtain better roads two
things are necessary. The first is to
create general conviction that the inn
provemeut OF our highways is impera-
tive, and that the mouey wisely ex-
pended for this purpose is sure to re-
turn. The second requisite Is to place
all road making aud mending under
the charge Of competent road builders.
Various efforts to secure these ends are
being made, and the aid Of county and
State authorities, and even the National
Government has been invoked 10 fur
ther the movement. While it is very
desirable that the highways Of adjoin-
ing localities should be under some cen
trI supervision, 50 that they may be
made to perform connected whole, it
may be questioned whether the Ma
tional Government could be an effect
i've agency in road improvement. Why,
for instance, should the dweliers be-
yond the Mississippi and on the Pacific
coast be taxed to maintain in Washing
ton a school for road engineers and a
museum Of road construction that few,
If any, Of these distant communities
could derive any benefit from a mOTe
practical scheme would be 10 have in-
struction in road engineering given at
each of the State colleges of agrieul-
ture and mechanical arts. In a coun-
try showing such wide differences in
soil, rainfall, temperature and topogra-
ply between different sections as the
United States does, road bGilding can
be Taught and administered far more
efficiently By the State or county than
by the nation.
There is need of much intelligent
care in framing legislation in the inter-
est Of the movement for better roads.
Annoying prohibition should be no
part OF the policy of the road reform
ers. For instance, large loads carried
on wheels having narrow felloes and
tires do great damsge.tO roads; hence
it has been proposed to prohibit narrow
tires ON heavy wagons. \ much better
policy is that adopted in Michigan, Of
giving reduction of one half their
road tax TO those who use broad tires.
The movement for good roads shows a
Iusty yigOr. The success that Il has
already achieved is splendid testimony
to the efficiency of voluntary associa-
ton of individuals, and if its leaders
continue to carry it on without the par
alyzing patronage Of the General Gov
ernment it is likely to attain great res
ults.