Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-05-31
BOARD BULLETIN FOR MAY
GOOD ROADS NUMBER.

AVERAGE FOR OXFORD COUNTY.
Condition Of grass fields, exceptional
ly good; very slight indications Of win
ter killing. Clover has wintered un-
usually well Season about one week
earlier than 1897. Acreage Of grain, rs
per cent; condition Of fruit trees, lis
per cent; condition Of plum trees and
other small fruits, lis per cent. Local
market prices: hsy, 1897, sli, 1898, ell
potatoes. 1897. 3S cents. lSSS, as cents
spples. 1897. rs cents. ls9S, 81 06; poul-
trv. 1897, IL cents. lS9s, IL cents; eggs,
1897 Is cents, lsas, 10 cents; butter,
1897, $50. lS9s, csc; sheep, 1897, o. 30,
lS9S, 81 20; wool, 1897, IL cents, 1898,
10 cents; oxen and steers somewhat
higher than last year.
ARoosTook COUNTY.
AMIrY-I do not think state high
WAY commissioner desirable. | believe
there are men in every town that are Ca
psble of expendiug the money that the
town may raise To as good advantage ss
any state officer could expend IL. We
are wsding through mud now knee deep
in many places, and on either side OF
the roads are stone walls. Now my
idea of repairing roads in such places Ia
this: would take plow made Tor the
purpose aud plow up the road bed and
take the road machine and scrspe the
dirt out on both sides, scrsping down
quite deep. Then haul in the rocks.
Would not use any that were very large,
cooble stones are the best. Would lay
them At least one foot deep, then take
the road machine and bring back the
dirt that was scrsped out, plow good
iitches aud round the road bed up well,
and YOU will have a road that will keep
iry and can be kept in good repair with
very little cost. Where there are not
stone walls 10 be had, in most places In
this section, and think throughout the
state, there are large piles Of stone In
fields that could be had for
he moving DANIEL NJ. LIBBY.
CUMRERI AND COUNTY.
HARRIsoN.-The best time TO work on
roads Is Just ss soon as il IL dry enough
10 work. say May and June. They
harden down better and one does not
have TO ride over rough roads all sum
mer. In building roads | should make
4 gradual round so the water will drain
zach way. and not too high, "a they
freeze deep, II built too high. The water
should be turned out OF the bitches as
early as possible 10 avoid washing the
roads. One must have n good team, ma
chine and crew, all of which are obtain
a ble under present law, 10 make sue
cess OF road building. For winter break
ing, the snow road machine or breakers
make the cheapest and best roads. The
snow rollers make good roads, but are
apt 10 cause pitches. In regard 70 bushes
the town should see that they are cut In
the month OF August and burned, then
We should have Law compelling each
man 10 keep them cut on his own land,
or, failing TO do this, the town should
cut them and add expense to tax OF such
delinQueDts. do not thick state high
way commissioner is needed, AS each
town Is, or ought 10 be, capable OF
its own business.
JAMES THoMEs. Commissioner.
OTlsFIELp.-when the roads Of any
town In the state are built and Kept up
10 the standard suggested by the best
brains in the town, we shall hear no
more complaint of bad roads In that
town. IL is not the lack OF brains from
which We are suffering so much as II Is
the lack OF money, aggravated one
hundred fold by shiftlessness and lack
OF public spirit. But this shiftlessness
is beginning 10 give way, and We may
hope for better days. A rigid Law that
will demand Of town 10 work Tor It's
own good, that is, TO save It's own
money, would be wholesome. Near me
l. hillside road, one ditch OF which re-
ceiyes tons and tons OF water from melt
ing snowdrifts, together with the drain-
sge OF msny acres Of vet land. That
water is allowed 10 run for long dis
tance, so thst no matter how well the
rosd Is liked it Is continually being over
flowed and damaged Wanted: law
that will compel the town To conduct
that water elsewhere, which Can be dope
AZ oue-hslf Of what IL now costs 10 ke-p
the road iu repair for three years. Such
cases "a this should be met with some
one outside OF the town armed with su-
,hority. Why not make that the duty
Of rhe county commissioners: Another
field Of thought in this connection, Is
stale aid for the rural districts, especial
Is in regard 10 the maintenance OF the
large bridges. State aid for our schools
has com. 10 stay. why not take another
step: General prosperity snd indivlau'i
are one. W. w ANphh"
OXFORD COUNTY.
SOUTH PARIS There should De Ia"
recurring the road commissioner 10 Keep
the full width Of the road free from trees,
bushes and briers, that the roaos may
have the benz Nc OF the sun aud wina 10
dry them. The commissioner should al,
30 have power To remove walls ana
fences that cause drifting, and SUBSTITUTE
wire fences, 10 be- kept In repair oy tue
town. Encouragement should also De
given 10 those whose fields border on
the highway, TO keep all stones picked
nm and the rosdsides moved. 10 make
this effective. no commissioners should De
allowed 10 haul out or throw out pro-
miscuously any stone or otner teiuse
that shall hinder so doing. Almost any
well drained soil will make iait eouo-
try road, but drainage you must nave ~
sny but a very sandy soil. | think the
time for state commissioner mas nor
vet come. Let Us wait few years sno
see how the road commissioners viii
educate themselves. >. M niN''
WOODSTOCK The first move ioi
GOOD roads il the hearty cooperation o'
every tow nsmsn with the COMMISSIONS!
especially in the spring when the frost !:
coming out OF the roads. Tor ~u.i
breaking think that our summer ,oso a.
machines can be arranged so aS 10 u.
yood work. In regard TO hedges, thins
that the bushes should be cut close sno