The suburban citizen., 1900-11-24

God Roads R6tss

a Unnndlnn,a MOVE.


past wet year in the matter OF
roads, OF rather the want of them'
venture to suggest that this Is
an opportune time to discuss matters
concerning the failure Of the old sys-
tenn and the substitution for it of some
more efficient method, writes F. j.
! Collyer, in the Farmers Advocate, OF
CANADA. For those living from fif'
teen to twenty miles from the railway,
as some of us do, there is no other
question concerning our business Of
such moment.
The statute labor system, copied, l
believe, largely from that'in force la
Ontario, while it may have afforded,
in the old days, the only practicable
method of filling a mud hole or bridg'
ing a creek, has, for reasons well
known to your readers, certainly
passed its days Of usefulness.
The Territorial Government failing
to profit by our experience, a few years
ago instituted a statute labor system
there, which, while superior to ours
In several particulars, has already been
found wanting, as may be seen from
comments in the local papers and pro,
vision has even been made for the sub
stituton of a cash system when the
majority of ratepayers in a district
usually township, 1 believe) so de-
| sire it.
Most Of our progressive municipall
ties have, I understand, abandoned the
| old system and now collect varying
amounts of cash in lieu thereof, and
| the results of the change, in some Of
them at least, have been most graft
! flying. For instance, the Clerk Of
Brittle Municipality informs me that
IN the two years during which they
| have collected 81 per Quarter-section
they have done more work than they
did in the previous fourteen under the
cid regime, and may state that in our
! own Municipality (Archie) the adj
mitted value Of the Improvements
done under the old system only reaches
, six per cent. Of the nominal cost.
As to the expenditure of the cash,
when it is collected, there is a differ
, ence of opinion as to the merits of the
day labor and contract systems
Some uphold the contract system,
considering that it is not safe and l
am sorry to say the fear is sometimes
iustiRed-to allow reeves and coun
, clors to hire their neighbors; but ]
have heard of dishonest practices in
awarding contracts, through only mott
flying favored parties. AS far as my
experience goes (and 1 must admit ii
is not great the contract system has
not proved a success. Owing to the
necessity of hunting scrapers, etc, and
the frequent inexperience Of the ten
derers, who, naturally, do not wish to
lose money on the job, the prices paid
are frequently very high, 50, Sc, and
,ven So per day for a man and team
eing not uncommon rates Of pay. On
, he other hand, day labor for short
terms is frequently unsatisfactory, as
neither men nor teams are Of much use
until they become acquainted with the
work which was a frequent cause
Df failure under the old system even
when the men were willing to work;
and the tool and inspection troubles
were ever present. AS a solution Of
the problem 1 would suggest the fol-
lowing plan, which, as far as l am
aware, is untried, but would think,
overcome the difficulty without any
great outlay in initial cost Select q
well-principled, Woodworking man as
working foreman, with or without
team as the number of men to work
under his direction would be small
or great He should, preferably, have
a prior knowledge Of The work. which
should be previously laid out by a
surveyor If the municipal authorities
Are incapable of doing it, and he
should be paid a good salary, placed
under bonds, and hired 70 as long q
season as is considered advisable. Then
all residents desiring to work on the
, roads should be required to give
notice, by a given date, Of the length
Of time they wish to work on the roads
and the date and locality in which
they would prefer to put in the tlmei
| those selected would work under the
| direction of the foreman, who in turn
would be under the general super
| dsion of the reeve and councillor OF
The ward. This plan would necessi
tate but little loss Of time through
moving, as the townships could be
! taken in rotation and the outfit would
| only need to be moved when the mon
ey allotted had been expended
! 1t would probably effect saving ir
wages, as cost Of living would be less
! II caboose was provided which
besides affording accommodation fol-
the men, would also contain small
tools, horse feed, etc. AS regards
stonework for culverts, etc, it would
perhaps be advisable to have that
done by qualified stone mason, rs the
dry stone walls and poplar stringers
80 frequently built last but a short
lime, and frequently fall shortly after
erection, through unskilled workman.
ship. AS cement Is now procurablS al
F., b3 per barrel and even less in quaint
ties, il would, 1 think, be advisable tc
have all walls over two feet in height
! a.tI L.. a.,