Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-03-19

many people in Maine think that is the
way roads should be built in Maine. But
am doubtful OF the project. I doubt II
Nassacb usetts will extend her work much
farther In the rural sections OF the state.
She has expended something over e 0o0,-
900, and has built over 200 miles of Msca-
dam roads. She started with the project
OF building here and there mile In the
rural sections as an example, so that the
local people would extend II. But do
they do III Never in any instance with
in my knowledge have they extended
these roads. They wait, and in the prop
er time apply for more road. IL Is too
expensive for rural town.
Again, the expense OF maintaining
these scientifically built roads is very
large. 1t has been thought, and IL
thought now by many, that W ben stone
road is properly built after the Macadam
system, 1t Is built forever; no repairs are
necessary. In New Jersey more thsn
1900 miles OF Mscadam road have already
been built, and the people are well pleased
with 1t. But their conditions are
market gardening-truck gardening--and
the farmers cart the products to the city
every morning. They are pleased with
their roads, but do you know that 1t costs
on an average $50 mile a year TO keep
those roads in repair? II surprised me to
learn this; 1t surprises every one. When
the authorities from Washington sent an
nv .ar4 N, ; D. at, s..t
those roads, they found that IL was $50 per
mile, after the first years use.
In Vermont the expenditure for road
maintenance is about s33 per mile through
out The state, and We claim that our roads
are improving. We hear more OF the cost
OF maintaining these roads from Mssss-
chusetls. When the advocates OF the sys-
TEN ask for the yearly appropriation each
year, they are met with opposition, and
this is one of the great arguments that
come up against them. II is urged that it
is q burden to the state to maintain these
roads.
So I cannot come here and conscien-
tiously advise you to bend your enegies
In the line 81 attempting to build Mscad-
am roads in the rural sections. They are
adapted for cities-they are all right
there, W here they can be built and have
the proper care-but in rural sections
like this, where the roads are as dry as
ours are to-day, what would a Macadam
road do? 1t would dry up and blow
away. When a Macsdsm road loses its
moisture it ceases to bind together, it I'M
ravels and wastes rapidly.
So, though / am little out of the usual
order, | am not advocating the Macadam
road. / will tell you what | do recon-
mend and advise. 1t Is that we wake up
and realize our situation; realize that
something must be done, and do that
which is within our means and within
our reach. And what is that? We should
change our methods. What has caused
this great agitation? Our methods are
wrong; we are not building roads, we are
just trying to hold these old roads that
have come down to us from former gener-
atoms, and treat them reasonably, by
force OF habit. We should guard against
those things in our nature that have come
to us by force of habit, rather than other
wise.
THE ROAD MACHINE.
This morning / witnessed an example
of just what is going on. didnot know
that we should find it in Maine, but have
talked myself hosrse against that same
practice even in Vermont. should jud se
there were a dozen men at work. Three
spans OF horses were hitched to >ros't
machine, with two men upon the me
chine, and they were tearing up the eartn
that has settled hard aud firm for this year
They were seraping upon the surface Of
the road bed sods, weeds, grass and mud
miserable material II were taxpayer
in that town would not rest until the
practice was stopped. 1t is all wrong.
Building a road? No, mol You cannot
build roads ont of grasa- or sods. or nnnd.