The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1902-01-23
HILLS IN THE ROAD.
Farmers Living North of Princeton
Complain of the Steep Hills
They Travel Over. r.
They Want the Hills Cut Down and
the Road Put In Better Con-
..* diti0n for Hauling.

:
... dition for Hauling. ..-
The poor ye have, always, and poor
roads are no exception. Princeton,
during the last two years, has done
quite bit in the way of aiding in put
ting some OF the highways tributary to
the village in good shape. The work
done to complete the Greenbush road
into town was one of the best invest
ments the business men of Princeton
ever made, and the few hundred dollars
expended on this road to complete the
work done by Greenbush township will
repay the merchants many hundred
fold in time to come. The road work
was done in thorough manner, gravel
being used in making a good wearing
road, and one that under proper repairs
will last many years. The work done
on the Wyanett road, where clay was
used without gravel, will not prove
profitable expenditure. Clay is all
right in dry weather, but in wet sea-
sons makes mighty bad road. It is
foolish to make road improvements of
this character, and it would be far bet
ter to'use old straw and weeds on the
surface. This method of road improve
ment is not very scientific but it is far
better than nothing.
The construction of good roads is one
that deeply concerns the farmer and
the business man, but there is so much
rivalry and selishness and so much log
rolling in the building of good roads
that communities suffer IN consequence.
Our road laws are not perfect and there
are mighty wide margins for improve
ment all around. But where roads are
known to be in almost impossible con-
dition, it is almost imessible for farm
mers to haul a good, heavy load over
them; then local sentiment should be
dropped, and such measures taken as
will guarantee to the farmer a road
that is possible for him to travel
OAS AOuU Vic year. --.-S III
I Acase in point at this time are the
bills on the north road leading out of
Princeton and up into north Princeton
and Bogus Brook. This road was open
ed some four years ago, but under pres
ent conditions, because of these high
and steep hills with narrow road WAYS,
the farmers are quite justified in kick
ing on the road. The hills are only a
few miles north of Princeton, and farm
ers say that it is almost impossible to
haul heavy loads over them, and they
say that unless the road can be put in
passible shape they will have to favor
the opening of a station on the rail-
road five or six miles north of Prince
ton. In new county like Mile Laos,
and which in so many places is being
settled up rapidly, road and bridge
funds are not always ample to meet the
demads for, road Improvement and con-
struction. A few hundred dollars does
not go far in township and the county
has hundred and one places for its
money. It would seem, however, that
in case like this, so near Princeton,
and where the village has paid many
thousands of dollars into the county
road and bridge fund, that the county
should make a reasonable appropria-
ton for road improvement of this
character. But laying aside all local
considerations, as matter of fairness
and justice to so many farmers who are
affected, it would seem that the county
should help to its fullest extent in a
road improvement of this character.
1t is a case where all should get
together and do something. There is
no question but what the business men
of Princeton would do their share to-
ward contributing to the Improvement
fund, and if the county and the town.
ship can get together in the matter
and figure out the cost, all hands can
turn in and put the road in passable
shape. The UNION understands that
Mr.. Ellenbaum, chairman of the
Princeton town board says with what
assistance the farmers will give in the
way of work, that $500 wilr= suffice to
make the needed improvements.
The matter is one that calls for ear
nest consideration by all interests
affected. A highway that has been
opened and that is left in such shape
that a farmer cannot use it for heavy.
hauling, is shame and disgrace to
any community. Here is road over
which thousands of dollars worth of
farm products are hauled every year,
and within almost stones throw to
the farmers market, but because of