The suburban citizen., 1900-04-07

AN rldlng ana driving season,
V V and especially with the
Ieappearance Of bicycles,
we shall hear much of good roads. 1t
is wished that in this country we
might sec rs much as we hear Of them.
Where the highways are improved
they are valued, and people who use
them are never again willing to go
back to the kind of trough Of sand
and mud that passes for turnpike in
many parts Of this country. The
good roads movement has not ceased
from moving, and cheering news
comes, every now and again, of the
laying Of asphalt in cities and Of mac
adam in the country, yet 80 little is
done in proportion to what ought to
be done, and must be done, that one
loses heart, now and again, and fears
that for the next century this country
is doomed to travel over almost the
worst roads in all tAo world. A trav-
eler who has just reached the East,
on his return from wheeling tour of
nearly three years around the world,
reports that he found the roads in
Illinois worse than those in China,
which were heretofore supposed to be
the meanest that could be found in
any land that had roads at all.
One of the chief causes of the slow
ness with which reform progresses
will probably be found in the fact that
in our country districts the farmers
discover that good roads do not stay
good forever. They appear to think
that their whole duty is done when a
proper foundation is laid and it is
smoothed by roller. They do not
think in this wise of their houses or
their churches or their farms. They
know that buildings need repair; they
know that trees need trimming; they
know that fields need plowing, and
they gather tho stones and stumps out
Of them every now and then; yet the
road that passes their doors and is
used by hundreds of thousands of
persons, is buried in snow in winter,
is scored by rain and pierced by frost,
receives no attention from them what
ever They do these things better
abroad. They first make road with
a clean, broad, properly graded sur
face, then they appoint men whose
daily business it is to 80 over it and
make repairs,
Queens County has spent millions
of dollars for macadam, and it has Sc
cured the best roads in the State of
New York. If they are allowed to go
TO ruin the work will all havc to be
done over again at tremendous ex-
pense. 4 road mender can keep at
least couple Of miles repaired; and
his pay will not be moro than q couple
of dollars day, unless he is in poll
tics. It is wiser to pay this sum than
TO have a bill Of thousands Of dollars
to meet at the end Of some years. In
Europe the members watch the high
ways lust as track walkers watch the
railroads. Whenever a heavy rain has
started a little channel in the pave
mont it will widen and deepen with
every succeeding rainfall until that
part of the pavement is torn beyond
repair. A little tamping with gravel,
q stone put in the channel, shovel
ful Of earth here and there, cart rut
obliterated, loose stone thrown aside
now and then will keep the road in
serviceable condition for life time.
The way not to do it IS finely illus
trated in Prospect Park, where a
couple of men of intelligence and a
little more diligence than we see in
public service would make farther re-
pairs needless; but absolute neglect
follows the surfacing Of every path
and drive. The stitch in time that
saves nine is never applied 1t is not
sufficient to make good roads. 1t is
lust as important to keep them good.
Now York Mail and Express.