River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-04-16
MODERN ROAD MAKING.
None But Trained Engineers should
Be Employed for Performing
This Important Work.

The old aphorism about pinching at
the spigot and losing at the bungho ole
quite as often applies to rural prac-
tees as to city ways. indeed, it some
times finds more frequent illustration
IN the country where cash has 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 I'M
dertaken the necessity for the services
of a competent engineer is generally
admitted. but roads are supposed to
be different As a rule only the sur
face is considered. That reduces the
question to choice between appli-
cations of dirt, gravel or crushed stone.
There are usually a 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 awful
country roads of the country have
been the subject of great deal of I'M
favorable criticism on the part of for
ei9n 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 a 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
a 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.
ton that public office is a private
snap, time that we Outgrew our petty
economies in public affairs. If 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, it is altogether
probable we would have had very
different and a much better's system of
roads to-day. 1t is not too late to in
stitute reforms now, and right here
is a chance for our agricultural col
leges to do some good work. The ag-
ricultural college. of course, cannot
attempt to fit a man for rural occupa-
ton. 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 we'll
qualified to do work of this kind, and
it would be economy on the part of
municipalities to employ them rather
than local officeseekers who are ever
on the lookout for jobs Of this kind
Farmers Review.