The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1903-04-23
MODERN ROAD MAKING.
None Hut Trained Engineers should
lie Employed for Performing
This Important work.

The old aphorsm about pinching at
the spigot ana losing at The bunghole
quite as oftc" applies 30 rural prac-
tices as to tl,I W".>. ,Uaeed, 1T some
times finds more i,.GU,lt Illustration
in the country Nie:t tas" has a rela-
lively higher value than labor. and
where theoretical knowledge is lightly
esteemed. This bad policy is more
often applied in the improvement or
management Of country roads than in
almost any other line of work If an
organized system of drainage is un.
dertaken the necessity for the services
of a competent engineer is generally
admitted. but roads are supposed to
be different As u rule only the sur.
face is considered. That reduces the
question to Il choice between appli-
cations of dirt gravel or crushed stone.
There are usually good many rival
candidates for the Office of road com.
missioner. No theoretical knowledge
of mechanical engineering or of road
making is required of these candi-
dates, and the citizens usually CON
slider themselves fortunate if the po-
sition is held by fairly intelligent
man of energy and good intentions.
He has to learn as he goes along, how
ever. and the township generally pays
dearly for his education. The lawful"
country roads of the country have
been the subject of great deal of un-
favorable criticism on the part Of for
eign visitors, and the loss sustained
through the difficulty and some
times suspension of traffic by reason
thereof is enormous. We have long
supposed this was one Of the IRENE
dial drawbacks of n new country, as
land values are not high enough to
Justify heavier taxation for expensive
turnpikes. However. engineers have
been turning their attention to the
matter, and now tell us that good
roads and dirt roads are not incom-
patible; that good road making is all
question Of knowing how. and that
the money expended for road improve
ments which are not directed by skill
and intelligence is money thrown
away. 1t is time we outgrew this no.
tion that public office is private
snap. time that we outgrew our petty
economies in public affairs. II the viii
lagos and townships Of the United
States, during the past so years had
paid their money to experts who
gave them honest advice and skilled
services, men who would have coordin-
ated their efforts, il is altogether
probable we would have had a very
different and n much better system Of
roads to-day. 1t is not too late to in
| stitute reforms now, and right here
| is chance for our agricultural col
| leges to do some good work. The ag-
! ricultural college. Of course. cannot
attempt to fit man for rural occupa-
| tion. but it can at least give him an in
| telligent knowledge of the problems
involved in road-making and to that
extent make him a good citizen, not
| likely to submit tamely to the waste
| of money by ignorant roadmasters.
| The engineering departments of our
| state colleges are graduating men well
| qualified to do work of this kind. and
| it would be economy on the part OF
municipalities to employ them rather
! than local oflceseckcrs who are ever
! on the lookout for jobs of this kind
! Farmers Review.