The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-12-24
FOR GOOD ROADS.
r. @. Clark Makes plea for Better Highways
In Iron County.

| IIOfl Alt iiNN tNHN' w ii' itNHN'N'iff
Reporter we take the following paper
read by r. G.. Clark at the last Iron
County Farmers institute:
IL il plttitnde to say that the roads
are bad. Every one Comedies the fact
and at once concludes 20 accept the in-
evitable As the obstruction to com
merce il general and effects all classes,
all seem content with the situation.
Nothing il done, probably because oi
the current belief that improved roads
entail an expenditure OF too much CAPT
tal and 80 the roads OF our townships,
as also those under the direct super
vision OF our county officials, are main
tanned in semi-improyed state. la the
case of township roads, demonstration
is almost invariably left ia the hands OF
parties elected. not because OF any
especial qualification or technical knowl-
edge, but for their genial or liberal dis
position or their ability TO control the
suffrages OF their followers: the admins
trntion IL in like manner controlled by
official boards who ARE chosen because
oI their int, gritty aud general ability in
every occupation other than engineer
ing. or all things in the domain oi com
mon property the public road is the
most used and the most conspicuous.
1t IL the most notable index OF civilian
tion and OF progression. There is posi-
lively but one solution OF the road prob
lem in Iron county or in any territory
OF like condition. Competent executive
ability must have control OF road inn
provements and that must not be
hampered by unwise local legislation.
Except in very frw instances, the en-
tire road system in Iron county has
been one ol mal-iotmatlon from its
beginning. The material used has been
practically the subsoil most convenient
to the builder, irrespective OF the fact
that il is composed OF decnyed vegeta-
ton and lacks the qualities most
essential to the maintainance oi "A good
road bed Another and equally deplor-
able feature is the contour OF road beds
under the present system and manage-
ment The road cen tres OF almost in-
variably below the margins which form
their connection with the bitches, there
by preventing the tlowage OF water from
road to bitches leaving the road beds
almost impossible during the wet season,
while the bitches are corrcspondingly
dry.
The people 81 France expended
eighteen millions OF dollars annually IN
the repairs OF their roads before they
discovered the Tact that an initiative
permanency was the fundamental bnsis
OF economy Today their highways are
an example To the world aud their taxa
tion for highways ~ scarcely noticeable.
Along within the limits-of the
county road, between Iron River and
Crystal Falls, there exists a sufficient
quantity OF material which, II properly
reduced would furnish most desirable
road bed reTer to the rock material.
II the authorities who have the matter
within their control, would purchase /,
rock crtlshcr il could be- moved IRON
point to point along the highway and
the vast amount of rock material could
be reduced to "a road dressing winch
when properly applied would haye an
effect almost phenomenal. The annual
Expenditures Of Iuuds for road repaifs
wonld be so reduced that the amount
appropriated for the improvement
would III brief period, revert To til,
people through i, lesscuing .. taxation
Tor road purposes aud a betterment ~
tic condition 81 their stock as we'll ~ i
saving in the wear OF vehicles fhir
method has been tested ia localities
where the rock material WAS hauled an
average distance Of nearly ono mile and
found most satisfactory. The expendi-
ture Of moderate sums for road pun
poses, annually, without establishing
any permanent results IL III no wise ar
economic proceeding, while ON the con
trary, where the raw material best
adapted to the needed improvement j.
already on the ground. II would nppell
that refusal TO utiliza IT might reason
ably be construed ~ "a direct antngon
ism 10 the best interests Of the common
wealth II il not my intention to un
Justly criticize what has already beet
done by those in authority, but | con
tend, that il Is not only "A right, but th,
duty of every citizen TO do everythin,
within his power to add TO the prosperi
ty OF the commonwealth ~ which h,
resides. aud have the temcriiy To assert
TINT the future oi Iron county depend
IA much upon the condition 81 il
avenues OF commerce as npon any othc
improvement within It's boundaries.
So
r.-.t-.. - faaai-n