Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-04-12
Good Roads and Road. Making.
BY A. C. ROMIG.

civilization. The wild animals Of
forest, the cattle Of the fields were
the first road. M akers; and so well and
wisely did they select their routes
that the early settlers Of Manhattan
Island and Of brainy Boston as well
could find no room~for improvement
and const1Hcted their dwellings along
the lines and sinuous windings OF
we'll defined cow-paths. So says ira
dition.
From the COW as road maker to
the Romans is long step. Symmet'
rical curves and short lines exploited
by the COWS, long tangents ana few
angles affected by the Romans mark
the rudimentary and the finished
work OF the ancients.
It's conceded that the Roman mill
tsry roads we're the acme OF ancient
road work and parallel Of modern.
That the Romans attained a high de.
gree OF excellence is attested by nu-
merous sections Of their work still
extant in Europe and in a fairly good
ste'e Of preservation after lapse OF
more than two thousand years.
W. marvel at their wonderful pro.
fciency when we contemplate the
crudity OF their implements Of labor,
and contrast them with present per-
fected tools and labor saving ma
chimes; they had no knowledge Of a
Blake crusher that does the work OF a
hundred men with stone hammers,
they never engineered four horse
grader that duplicates the work Of a
dozen or fifteen scrapers and does it
infinitely better, they never carted
their cabbages to market over a spid-
er:webbed steel bridge, but they got
there in good shape.
We sometimes wonder that the
American people were SO tardy in i'm
itating the noble example Of the Ro'
mans, but perhaps there was sufflc'
lent reason. For a period OF 200
years after the settlement of James
town the people were too poor to in
dulge in the luxury Of paved roads in
the rural districts; for period Of five
decades from 1910 the entire nation
was absorbed and energy employed
in constructing railroads, locating
cities, and establishing central marts
OF trade. But now that its railroads
are practically built, the cities To-
Gated and trade centers permanently
established there is no longer any
reason for tolerating bad roads, and
they will not be tolerated. The ma
ton is becoming thoroughly aroused
and interested in this matter, all
honor to the L. A. W. for their persist
ent agitation and this fruitful result
From the Atlantic to the Pacific,
from the Lakes to the Gulf, the COVER
nors Of several states, and in the Do
minion of Canrda as well, are urging
upon their law.making bodies the
necessity of radical Legislation in the
interest Of better roads.
There seems to be a general con-
demnation of our present system OF
supervision and distribution Of road
funds.
California complains that road
building has been socrude that the
money spent annually, about $l'7oo'
900, appears largely wasted advises
checks that will result in strict &C.
countability, proposes to establish a
crusher and building Of model road.
Connecticut spends annually 300,
OOO,avers that in the last half century
enough has been wasted to construct
first class highway, connecting
every hamlet, town and city in the
state advises state supervision that
will givsto the towns the benefits Of
experience, suggests that the state
bear I instead Of ! the expense.
Delaware hazards the assertion
that too much Of the money finds its
way into the pockets Of overseers, in
payment Of per diem overseeing two
or three men, does not blame the
overseer, but condemns the system.
Indiana contributes the information
that discomfort with country life is
the iruitage Of the thraldom Of mud
DIV roads, advises that road tax be
paid in cash and supervisors be held
4. ,t,;ot ooooup 70 hi1itv