Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-12-18
Correspondence.
shady Country Iscads.



WAsHINeToN, D. G.. Dec. Q, 1901.
To the Editor of The American:
Any one who travelled much over the
country roads la Maryland and Virginia,
where The roads are generally full of
holiows and humps, can appreciate drive
over our smooth country roads in Maine
IN the summer time, although 1t might
be well not to mention their condition in
late fail and early spring months.
Throughout the country, great adj
vances have been made by the cause OF
good roads since the subject was con-
sidered In the national convention In
Chicago last year. The National Good
Road association has conferred It's energies
on the following plan OF campaign, out
Tined at the national convention at
Chicago: Securing in the various states
the repeal OF the statute labor laws, and
the substitution therefor of the payment
OF the usual road taxes in cash; securing
legal provision for the employment of
vagrant, or tramp and convict labor in
preparation OF material for the con-
suitable provision for governing the
widths OF tires used in hauling Mesvy
loads, etc.
Regarding the necessity of this move
meut, it is sufficient to say that the re-
cords OF the "Office OF Public Road In
quiries" show that sit cost the farmers
of the United States nearly three times
,,,ora Than houa ~ E,nrana to ruarkat a m
equal tonnage OF farm produce over coun-
try roads"
While do not presume to be competent
to give the farmers in Hancock county a
lesson on road building, l may be able to
point out to them few facts that they
have overlooked. In Europe, and espec-
tally In England, as much care is taken Of
side, as OF the road ITSELF Good roads over
bleak and barren billsides are only half
appreciated, and while 1t may not tie
practica ole to plant trees along the many
miles OF our open country roads, there are
few spots left in every town in our
county where the farmer has not yet
spoiled the beauty of the forest and the
tree, as usual, in their greed for gain.
That they cut down every tree. even those
that are within the three-rods limit of the
road and belong to the town, without
protest from any one, is well known.
Incidents OF this kind occur every year,
and while they have right to be mean
and not leave tree to shade the road, IL
10 ole rIv oh IN ha haf lop mr.
care should be taken by the road COM
missioners to prosecute any one who cuts
down tree within the limits OF the high
way for personal gain.
There Is beautiful drive through the
woods in North BrookliD, but within the
past year the destroyer has been at work
opening a wide gap by the roadside,
merely to get firewood, not even leaving
a small tree for shade for the future gen.
erations, to enjoy.
But the most noticeable incidents OF
the destruction OF our forests and laying
bare our highways are seen in Sedgwick,
heretofore one Of the prettiest roads in
our county, leading under an arch OF
great spreading pines. The woodman, in
ms srseu ior boe mig MY uoiiaif nas
left scarcely tree standing as far as he has
yet gone. Not only that, but the limbs
and tree tops are left in a tangled, I'M
slightly profusion almost in the driveway.
1t is true that the farmer might lose
few dollars by leaving shade trees when
cutting his timber or firewood, but II be
would pause and consider how much
more his farm would bring IL he or his
heirs should ever desire to sell it, were the
roads, paths and highways, shaded by
trees, he might be persuaded to be a
public bepeiactor and leave the trees
standing to beautify and assist in pre-
serving our public roads as nature in
tended N. V. TIBBETTs.