The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-06-09
INTERNATIONAL TRANSIT.
Great Britain Discussing Improvement of
Roads.


Great Britain Discussing Improvement of
Roads.
The subject of improved highways
for reducing the cost of transit for ag-
ricultural produce is being agitated
not only in our country, where in some
sections it is an absolute necessity on
account of the impossible condition
of the roads during certain seasons,
but in Great Britain, where her ma
cadamized thoroughfares are gener-
ally considered to be about as we'll
constructed and managed as they can
be. The principal object in agitating
for better highways is to urge the
necessity of improving our existing
means of transit to enable our farm
ers throughout the state to transport
or haul their heavy and bulky pro-
duce to market, or to the consumer, lat
a lessened cost
In speaking recently at meeting
of the Society of Engineers in Eng
land the president, Mr.. w. W. Beau
mont, remarked: Few people recOg-
nize how large a proportion of the
whole industry of the country relates
to the traffic on land. Fewer still re-
alize how vast is the Importance of
good roads for the use of all. 1t may
safely be said that the average resis-
lance on country roads is from two to
three times what it need be, especially
if we include the sharp hills of some
counties.
AT present there are at least 400, =
600 draft horses at work in the United
Kingdom. Quite One-tenth of these
could easily be dispensed with by i'm
provement of the heavier gradients
by few cuttings and banks or via
ducts and better road surfaces. Sup
posing the work of only 800, 900 horses
to be reckoned with, to save only one
tenth of this number would mean a
saving of $7,500,000 per year, and all
the other 450, 600 horses would be able
to earn from S22 to $50 per year more
than at present. At $25 per year the
saving would be on his head alone
$11, 100000, making a total of $1S 750,
00O This sum capitalized at per
cent. represents $625, O00,0 900, so that
the number of horses assumed to be
always at work is excessive. 1t is OBJ
vious that at least $500, 100000 of ma
tional money might be profitably in
vested i'll the Improvement of our
highways. Also, besides this, it must
not be forgotten that the better the
roads the less the wear and tear, the
the lighter and better the vehicles and
their wheels and wheel tires
Up to the present we seem to have
given little heed to the value of cheap
internal transit for the produce of our
farming industries, but if we consider
carefully the advantage to be gained
from having our country thorough
fares in the best possible condition for
the transportation of the products of
our farms, as well as for other traffic,
it will be found to be far greater than
The good roads question is one
which should enlist the serious consid-
Grafton of agriculturists themselves,
they being the chief beneticiaries,
and it should be looked at from all
points of view. If our highways are
in such a condition as to allow heav-
Ter loads to be hauled with fewer ami
mails, and the extra animals which
were required for the same, or even
smaller loads, on bad roads, can be
utilized for other farm work, a con-
siderable saving is made right there
A saving in time which can be made
on good roads over bad, is a saving
of money, and a reduction in the
tear and wear of animals, wagons or
other vehicles and harness, so that
they last greater length of time, is
also money in the pocket of the farm
er. Besides this, there is the posi-
bility on good roods under all condi-
lions of weather, which enables the
farmer to take advantage of the mar
| ket whenever it suits him, instead of,
as is often the case, having to miss a
| good market on account of the bad
condition of our country thorough
fares at certain seasons of the year.
There can be no question as to the
immense value of our farming popu-
lation of properly constructed and
maintained thorOughfares, and which,
it is to be hoped will be Forthcoming
in the near future. The subject is
again being given publicity through
the columns of the public press, and
it should be kept prominently before
the minds of our people until the i'm.
proved condition of our country high
ways is a matter of history.
Krug.
Weather fine and mills running at
full blast, hence we have no com
| 1,,, - y,el