The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-02-09
Location and Classification o
Roads.

I. is not the inteo:ion OF shis papcr
TO enter into the details and processes
of field work in road location. but
merely to outline sone of the general
considerations which should be observed
10 laying out OF improving system OF
roads. But as oar roads are already
looated and built. the practical ques
sion with us is rather one Of slassi6ca-
sion than Of location. Theirs are, OF
/ course, many places where q change OF
Location is desirable and even neses-
s.ry. bat most Of the roads will always
rem.io where ,hey are. Maoitessly
all the roads are rot OF equal import
aooe, or entitled to an equal share Of
Improvement and maintenance. This
i, generally recognised. but tho dis
crinination is not alaays, By any
means, in favor Of those roads which
most deserve it; that is those which
are the only outlet. for the greasess
traffic.
It is plain that the public roads are
but part Of . general aystem Of trans
port..iou, embracing uavigable water
COURSES, railways and wagons roads,
each subdivided into several classes
No part of the system can be intelli-
gently considered without reference to
the whole. The ideal system is de-
signed to reach every section of pro-
ductiye territory, and to move i's pro-
ducts and supplies and people at the
least possible cost, whittier in construc.
ton. operation, maintenance or discom-
fort The importance Of this fact is
we'll understood by the 6pancers and
engineers who build the railways and
to the numerous problems as to loca.
ton. distance gradients aud types Of
construction, it is applied With the ut
most picety Those enterprises. in the
plaouing Of which. it has been over
looked, bave generally met With 6uan-
cial failure, aud SO. pubic roads built
or maiut taiped without regard to it. are
an unnecessary burden upon the people
Most of our public roads were built
before the days of railways. and of
course independently Of them. and hsve
been blindiy accepted ever since, to the
great loss of both the people aud the
railways. Mr.. W L. Trenholm, in his
admirable article on Transportation"
10 the Hand Book Of South Carolina, .
says: ..After the railroads we're fpish-
ed, the highways built and maintained
oy so costly. and even oppressive sys-
TEN Of personal road service. were Of
| little use as main arteries for trade and
travel, but the fcrmer crossroads. co.,
Meeting the uew..o~ns and the railroad
stations With the country arouod them,
became importan. sborougbfares. Ow
ing to the peculiar topography of the
country, aud to the course Of the rail-
roads along the ridges, these old cross
roads we're i'll adapted to such require
menss. while the road laws we're not
elastic enough TO remedy the juoon-
veoienoe By applying to them the means
uaed 10 building the former highways
Hence to this day some towns and many
important railroad stations are almoss
inaccessible 10 bad weather
In planning general system of road
improvement it is necessary to have q
map Of the territory under confederation,
showing all lines Of transportation. the
market towns. county seats. schools.
churobes. aud as far as possible poioss
Of production Some informsslon should
also be obtained as to the volume OF
| business that might naturally be ex-
pec.ed, for 90 this depends almost
| entirely the extent and kind Of improve
inert TO be made. The general direc-
lions of the traffic and the maximum
length of haul should also be deter
mioed Generally the distance and
direction of market towns and raiiway
sta.ious. and the topography of the
county would be the determining coodi-
.ious : but 10 some instances political
questions, such as the location of the
ooun fy sea., would need to be consider
ed. Tue roads should then be divided
into at least three classes. as follo~s:
1ss The roads. connecting market
towos not already connected by railway;
or raouiog of from railway stations or
towns ic such directions as to be the
na.ural trunk lines Of many branches,
or which for any reason command tx
ed amount of traffic.
God. The roads, connecting these
main lines, or branching. from them at
such sngles as 60 command secondary
6xed volume of business.
3sd. Neighborbood roads. those par
sllelirg other lines of transportation,
.pd any others not included in the first
or second class.
The amount TO be expended either in
-,o;okaoenoa ohm III