The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1904-07-21
THE NEws-HERALD HILLsBoRo THURSDAY JULY 2 1904.
our zlczAo RURAL ROADS.
How We Got Them and How We May,
to Some Extent, Improve Their
Location.

In the building of roads. the first ques-
tion to be settled is that of location.
and It is a question of prime Importance.
II the road to be built is new one, the
problem of location is not difficult to
solve. The principles which should
govern the location are simple, and
they readily appeal to the common sense
Of all who are interested. The road
should be as short and straight as prac-
ticable. II the country Is level, all that
is necessary is to determine the points
through which IL Is to pass and build 1t
straight from one point to another But
In most cases the country is not level.
This introduces a new element, that OF
grades. Steep grades are to be avoided
above all things. The question then Is
to make the road as short as Is COM
patible with easy grades. Deep cuts
and heavy fills are expensive. and should
be avoided as far as possible. A wind
ing road seven miles long with light
grades is better than one four or five
miles long, with heavy grades. Over the
former, q team can draw load Of two
tons about as quickly as a load Of one
ton over the latter. The location oi
such q road is problem to be worked
out with care and judgment. The con.
tour Of the country must be studied and
surveys and calculations must be made
But when 1t comes to improving the
roads which are already located, the diff
fculties are vastly greater. In the frs
place in most sections of our countr!
the roads have been badly located. II
fact, they have not been located at al
in the true sense. Many of them wer
originally nothing but COW paths. 9th
ers we're made by the early settlers 70
their immediate convenience, and will
no thought Of their fitness for high
ways for highly organized communities
After the country became more full
settled and the land was divided int
farms new roads we're generally lai
out SO as to run on boundary lines be
tween farms, almost wholly regardless
Of the contour of the country. AS
result the roads are not only crooked
but they involve many steep grade
which are wholly unnecessary.
When 1t is proposed to correct thes
errors Of location. the trouble begin
Farmers have built their houses on tn
road, and they don't want 1t changes
Besides, they don't want their farm
cut up. The local road officials want
keep on good terms with their neigl
bors, and, therefore, lack the nerve
make radical changes. And SO we 6
on year after year throwing away none
on roads that ought never to have bee
built.
1t is likely that the errors Of the pa
can never be entirely corrected. b
q great deal can be done in that dire
tion. Many slight changes can be mat
which will result in great improvement
In this connection 1t Is thought th
great advantages will result from Il
adoption OF state and national aid. tt
first great benefit that will result fro
the national aid plan will be the arou
ing Of popular interest The moveme
for good roads will become general, rat
er than local. The piecemeal metho
Of road improvement will give place
larger plans. The people will get broa
er views. Local kickers who want
sacrifice the interests OF the whole col
munity for selfish personal ends will
ignored, and many roads will be part
relocated.
: State and national aid will also sh
! the authority from the local officials
. the officials of the county, the state a
: the nation, and these will cooperate
adopting and carrying out general pla
. for locating and building roads for t
best interests of all the people who a
I to use them.