Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1898-02-26

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The economic Importance o. good
roads has been demonstrated by star
Ting statistics 1t has been shown that
the Traction force required to move
1000 pounds at speed of three miles
M hour over Il level road of iron, as
phait. loose gravel and soft sand is re-
spoc'i}gly 8. II, 800 and AIS pounds
From this statement it may easily be
inferred how costly bad roads are Iron
and asphalt are mentioned for tie sake
Of comparison They could not, of
coETs', he us, Il as the constructive ma
tlrl@tS of country roads. But she differ
euce between poor and good roads is so
great that the team which can only
draw enc ton ON the former will, ac-
corlng to the character Of the improve
hehL haul from three to five tons on
the latter,
HE Improvement Of our highways
votId be variuusly profitable. Now
farmers lose many days i'll the year
waiting for good weather and dry roads.
AUt the seaport Of men and animals is
Is expensive when they are idle as
when they are engaged i'll lucrative
work. With coed roads the farmers
uye1 never lose any time. In wet
weather. when they could not work on
the land, they could carry their prod
nets TO l.arket No rains would compel
them TO spend valuable time i'll idle
hess, independents of climate, they
could deliver their produce whenever it
suited their convenience or enabled
them to secure higher prices. Foul and
far weather would he equally profit
able
The utilization of stormy days would
prevent losses from idleness and enable
farmers to avail themselves of the high
est rates which the market ever offers.
P1riahaile fruits cannot await favorable
c0nGitl.nS OF weather or OF roads. If
they are not sold at maturity, they Of
ten become 4 total loss. Farmers, dis
hcartencd by such losses, are unwilling
to raise crops which, with better means
OF transportation, would be very re-
munerat-Ne. Therefore the occasional
lnabillJy OF cuItlvators to market their
pcrishabla products at the right time
"elliEta tAen OF fruitful source OF
proiIt,
1t takes Il much longer time and re
quIlrS u IN greater tTaotlVe force to
maui IlSht loads over bad roads than 1t
Wo0Ia to Draw heavy loads over good
roads the unnecessary strains to which
Lad rG@Cs SuDJect teams, harnesses and
wagons are very wearing. Rough usage
seriously lAJufes the farmers equip
mont improved highways would pre-
vent "Falddble depreciation OF property
ana increase the gains OF producers
Inc experience OF other sections rec
oihmrhuS the construction OF two roads
OF stone CT gravel. Each road would
proloh& the LIE OF the other. In dry
weather the DIRT road would be used,
because 1t would be easier for the feet
o1 'he craft ANNALS In wet spells the
use ol the rock road would prevent the
lhJulltS Whlch tl1Vel would then lntllct
upon the art road. III the longest rams
one COED highway would always be
aV"lfIDl2, IN tar weather the farmers
could take their CHOICE OF stone or
eaiIA roal Inc use OF WIDE tires would
lessen the cost and frequency OF repairs.
1t Is hAr@ly worth While to build a
rev good highways. systems of roads
should he improved at the same time.
Gil muddy roads could not avail itself
Of the fall advantage of a rock road