The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-10-17

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under road master employed by the
year" the force to be kept at woil
all the year" except in bad weather
and each such force to be supplied witt
a team of two mules, plough, and
such other necessary implements rs
the county is able 20 furnish"
3. That the county employ com
petent civil engineer, when necessary
to direct all permanent work and To
instruct the township road masters in
their work. If the county shall under
take to macadamize the main public
roads or do any other permanent work,
requiring long time for its corlplc-
tion, then to employ an engineer for
such time that the work may be
thorough.
4. That the county commissioners
levy one mill for permanent work" "
that the chain gang be employed on
such work only, that the board pur-
chase or hire the necessary machinery
for permanent work, and that applica-
ton he made TO the penitentiary au-
thortics for l5 to 20 convict laborers.
The convict laborers would help the
cause materially, but it is evident that
their aid is not essential to the plan
and will be dispensed with if necessary.
Its main features are the provisions
for the strict enforcement of the roa
service or it's equivalent in money, the
inclusion Of the road tax on the gem
eral tax, the employment of the chain
gang on permanent work only, the
steady employment of the repair force
all the year, the assured use of the
necessary machinery" and the COM
petent supervision of the whole work.
The plan cannot fail to insure the ma
terial and continuing Improvement of
all the roads of the county, and tho
placing of the principal ones in first
class condition, and it might be adopt
ed by other counties greatly to their
advantage.
incidentally to the subject of such
improvements it may be remarked that
the time is evilentally near at hand
when good roads will possess a special
value and importance in any pant of the
country besides and beyond that of
affording smoother ways fol the pas
sage of ordinary and slow vehicles
only. The automobile has come to
stay, and il is not mere toy, but is
capable of rendering useful public
service, as it is largely so employed al
ready in many cities, and its possibil-
ties are not YET nearly developed. An
exhibition of its speeding qualities
given III Chicago few days ago 10 III.
terestngly reported by one of the local
papers.
The competition was between the
Winton four-wheeled gasoline automo-
bile and two motor trlcyclcs over q
fifty y-iuilc course. The four-wheeler
made the tifly-mlcs IL hour, II min
tes and SO seconds. The thirty-sixth
and fortieth miles were each made in
80 seconds. The average speed per
mile was 90 % seconds. This record
was beaten, however, by one of the
tricycle. motors, which made the SO
miles in | hour, Is minutes, 81 seconds,
althoua', ii slackencd speed once TO feed
moro oil to its small engine. II made
the second miles in minute, 20 10
seconds. The highest speed of the
four wheeled automobile was at the
rate of 40 miles an hour that of the
tricycle. motor was 40 miles All hour.
Commenting on the exhibition n
Chicago paper says: While such
speed as this is impracticable except on
an unobstructed and smooth course, II
demonstrates the amazing development
of the sclt-prOpelling vehicle within a
few years. The pcrfecting of automo-
blles for practical uses is only in its in
fancy, and such contests stimulate
while they illustrate its rapid growth. !"
Forty miles an hour is good railroad
speed, and when it is remembered that
some of the machines are sold fol as
low pr,ce as $750-which is far less
than the cost of n railroad, and not more
than that of fine horse or cow-and
that they can be run on any country
road that is smooth and firm, it would
appear to be good policy for any coun-
try community, which desires rapid
transit for any reason TO put its roads
in such shape. 1t Is not required,
moreover, to make the roads level.
The motors can go up and down hill.
They have recently asccnded and de-
scended Pixies Peak, and other noun
tains, without difficulty. -NeWS and
Courier.