The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-12-30
THE WAY TO BEGIN.
InnuEurated Everywhere with
out Additional Expense.

What is to be done under conditions
that obtain in many parts Of the coun.
try? is the question raised by CORE
spondenJ of Good Roads. who says:
I'VE have in this township assessed
roughly at $3.50, 900 some 90 miles OF
road. We cannot spend $4,000, $1,000
or even $500 per mile on these roads.
There is not enough money in the town
ship. all told, to do it. and the law limits
the bonded Indebtedness. To select a
few miles of the principal highway is
not just to the poor fellow who helps
pay for it a6nr must drive five or ten
miles to rea,e
Much bcao or work might he done
than we are dOing, but it remains that
many miles must be attended to with
few dollars. What most is needed Is
careful consideration of existing con
ditiOns-how best to spend Sl,20O OF
Sl,jOO on go miles of road. resrrving $500
or $500 of that for the winters SHOWS.
Teach us serviceable lessons for com
munitics of this sort, aud DO not expect
asphalt, macadam or steel until the fel.
lows from town help to build them (an0
they haven't built their own ycU.
"No wonder the rustic kicks IL the
road is to cost more than the entire val.
ne of all the farms through which it
passes. He appreciates good roads, but
must remember his slim pocketbook.
He laughs little. too, at the big saving
heavier loads would make for him.
Nine out of ten Of him at that time OF
year have little to do for self or team
aud are not crowded with what they
have to market. lie would rather make
two trips than one, as he and his horses
both need the exercise"
The tendency in such eases as this is
to underestimate the beneficial effects
Of hard roads and to assume that they
are of value only during the winter.
They are Of enormous value then. and OF
equally great value i'm summer and the
ousy seasons, when the possibility OF
hauling big loads is money in the
pocket.
IN the past the farmer has been left
too mVch to his own resources in the
care Of the highways. Now. however.
state aid is rapidly being acknowledged
as the proper means of promoting the
good work, and the states are slowly
but surely falling into line in adopting
it. Until it is generally in force there
may be time for much good work TO be
done, and the first steps toward real
improvement can he taken by securing
cnreful grading, thorough drainage and
the adoption OF wide tires.
In this connection the experiences Of
two southern counties is rigL. % the
point. In one the loads averaged . 400
pounds and the tax is ten cents hun.
dred. In the other the loads are but
500 pounds and the taN 90 cents a hun
dred, Improved methods reduced the
road taN one-haif and greatly improved
the roads.
This county owns grader, plows,
carts, implements and siN mules, and a
superintendent and five mcu are kept
at work on the roads The work costs
S55.l7 a mile, and, though the roads are
only plain dirt" they are kept in such
good condition that three times as
much can he hauled MS on roads cared
for in the old way. Here. surely. Is a
cheap and easy way to begin
Farmer--This is one oil my pes Jer-
sey COWS.
Greater New Yorker-Yes, | sees
can rel 'em right along by the dark
spots around their eyes and mouths
where the skeeters bite 'em.-Up to
Date.
InsuIted.
Justice-You are accused Of im-
personating an officer of the law.
constable.
Dismal Dawson--Mel You must
think | ain't got no self-respect left
- ui-IndlanAnois Journal