The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-10-19
Preserving Good Roads.


Hou 70 preserve good roads is a
question 10 which public interest is
growing. Ia Richmond coonty we have
learned bow to make good roads. but
how to preserve them. is yet to be ac-
couplished. We have frequently sug-
gested the importance of maintaining
q road ir its perfection after it is build
ed, rather than to let it wear out and
then build it over again. On the long
pixies that traverse Kentucky, Ohio
and some Of the middle states, they
maintain system of constant repair,
and never allow road 20 become
worn. AS soos as there is the slightest
WASH. it is assended TO immediately
This. course is not only cheaper, but 1t
always preserves the roadbed in perfect
condition.
The Good Roads Bulletin. which is
published under tbs auspices of the
League. Of American Wheelmen.
deyoses9 good deal of spsce 10 its
current issue to the value OF broad tires
in preserving the roadbed It says !:
"a number Of states 10 this country
have passed uide-tire laws. but even
some states which spend much mosey
in improving their roads fail to see the
importance Of prescribing the width OF
tires sha. will do most Co maintain and
protect them. I. is q shoss-sighted
policy and one that costs money.
TIE San Francisco Chronicle says
that Austria requires tires for wagons
built for more than two and ope.fourth
tens, to be at least four aud one third
inches wide If for more than !our and
one.haif tons, six and ope.Eourth inch
es. Bohemia requires four and ooe-
half inch tire for two horse wagons.
France requires tires from three to feo
inches vide; fog four7wheeled wagons
tires are usually at least six inches.
With the front axle shorter than toe
rear, so that the wheels do not crack
Germany requires at least four-'ncb
tires For wagons for heavy loads
Switzerland requires ooe iocb Of width
for each draft animai. and six inch tires
for wagons for heavy loads lo Can-
ada the agricultural department recon
msnded si3. inch tires sor loads OF soo
or more, and that is PROBABLY the Law
As stated above, no county in Geor.
eia bas better roads than Richmond,
ou. i, is distressing to the ~heelmeo
aud the drivers of light road vehicles
to see the way 10 which our best drives
are allowed to degenerate. The road
whioh goes up by the exposition and
through Monte Sano. was, ITO years
ago, one of the favor;se bicycle roads
10 the county aud in perfect condition
for coassing COW it is washed 10 many
places. and long stretches OF the road
are seep asndbeds. Iu our opinion. the
cost Of keeping this road in perfect con !,
di,ion sioce it vas built, up to the
present time, would not have approz'-
mated what i, will cost to pot 1t in good
repair uow. L. addition to the saving
10 money, wheelmen and drivers Of
light vehicles would have enjoyed this
drive which for mootbs past has been
seriously impaired
We think it matter sufficiently
important to direct the attention of
our newly elected members of the
legislature to the wisdom Of law
requiring wide tires for heavily load
ed wagons. A heavily loaded wag.
on equipped with 9 six.inch tire is
much lighter for the horses and IN
stead of cutting up the roadway.
improves it. A law which would re
ouire all loaded vehicles to be equip
ped with vide tires would contrib
ute greatly to the preservation OF the
roads
The last report of the Massachu-
sets highway commission states that
an important outlay" in maintain
ing stone roads is caused by the ten
dency uf drivers to travel In one
track, thereby cansiug ga single line
of road to be worn for width of one
and half to two feet." and making
necessary repairs that would not be
called for if travel spread out little
over the surface. Signs reading.
Don't drive in the middle of the
road l." have been placed on roads
where this tendency has beer mos,
marked and have been respected in
many cases The roads would be
still further preserved if wide tires
and sxels of unequal length were
used on heavy vehicles Augusta
Chronicle.