River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-07-07
THE LOCATION OF ROADS.
Something About the Advantages and
Defects of the Checker
Board" System

In most parts of the west where
the public lands were surveyed and
laid off into sections, halves and quar-
tiers, the public roads have been estab-
lished on the section lines. These
roads consequently run either north
and south or east and west, crossing
at right angles. This method of To-
eating roads is sometimes called 1.-The
checker board SYSTEM" and the term
is quite appropriate. In some states
the road laws contemplate the estab-
fishing Of road on every section line,
so they will be only one mile apart,
but not nearly all these roads have
been actually opened
In comparison with the system, or
lack of system, which prevails in the
older settled states of the east and
south, this checker board system has
some advantages. The roads are not
left to be located at haphazard, or on
crooked farm boundaries, or according
to the whims or selfish interests OF the
locators. The order and mathematical
regularity of the system naturally ap-
peals to the minds of those who read
about these roads or study them on
maps, but to those who actually travel
them their location appears to be very
far short of ideal perfection. In fact
the system involves two very grave de"
fects If man wishes to travel d.
rectly north, south, east or west these
roads take him by the shortest possi-
BILE route. But large majority CT the
people wish to travel in other d1rec-
tons. Let us suppose man lives eX-
actly ten miles northwest from his
county seat. In order to reach 1t he
must travel seven miles east and
seven miles south, or IA miles in all.
Thus a large majority of travellers SUI
fer a hardship in the matter of dis
lance.
But the second defect in the system
is far greater. The mathematical pre-
cision with which these roads are To-
Gated carries them across hills and
hollows without any regard to econ
omy in the matter of grades. Where
the country is perfectly level there
is no difficulty; where it is rolling the
roads can only be improved at heavy
cost in making cuts and fills; where
there are steep hills and deep ravines
to cross the system is wholly imprac-
ticable.
Doubtless one of the first benefits
that will follow the adoption Of the
national aid plan will be the modifica-
ton OF this system so as to remedy
in 1oT MI NAT
urally the first roads to be improved
in a county will be those leading d.
rectly north, south, east and west
from the county seat. Then main
roads or avenues leading northeast.
northwest, southeast and southwest
from the county seat should be opened
and improved Thus the first defect
will be largely eliminated.
The second defect pointed out can
only be cured by departing from the
section lines where the lay of the road
makes 1t economical to do so. Under
national and state aid competent en-
gineers will be employed to correct err
rors of location so as to increase the
usefulness of the roads and at the
same time reduce their cost.
The sentiment for national aid Is
making great Roadway in this part OF
the country. In Nebraska the legisla-
ture has declared in favor of 1t. Sew
eral members of congress from Mis-
souri, are outspoken advocates of the
plan. In Illinois state commission
has been appointed to investigate and
report on national aid. In a number OF
other states definite action will prob
ably be taken in the near future.