Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1904-12-01
ROAD IMPROVEMENT.
COLONEL r. w. RICHARDSON ON THE
CONSTRUCTION OF HIGHWAYS.

CONSTRUCTION OF HIGHWAYS.
TFhey Must BE Built to Last, He Says,
and Then Taken Care Of-Advises
.he voting of Bonds to Carry on
ahe work.
At the Kansas good roads convention
oionel L. w. Richardson, secretary
tc the National Good Roads associa
ton, delivered the principal address.
Among other things he said:
Good roads must be founded as
firmly rs mans character If he
va1Its good results therefrom. You
lp'Hst build we'll; you must build deep
ly; you must build for days to come.
Suu must care for Il road every day
and must never go away to let it take
care of Itself. 1t must be nurtured in
q strength, solidity and firmnesS, and
thea it will last like a great and good
character.
.te sure of getting Il good BERN or
eEhankment on both sides to serve as
walls for the bed. Make the bed into
u. oval shape. considerably higher i'll
..t..e center. Before spreading either
rock or gravel roll firmly. The roller
y.,l find all of the weak places. Snd
~ these can be filled up. If this is
G3aa conscientiously there will then
= titorward be no breaking down of the
roHlTote. Ii is a mistake to make the
.gIul TOO thick. While it does no harm,
j. IL an absolute waste of material. |
was surprised when down at Fort
scott TO find that the road there was
being made eighteen inches in thick
nyas. The majority of the roads are
EoE being made only nine inches in
q ,'yness, While many are being made
njr i't6re than six inches.
.. 9he point is not quantity, but quail
ily. Make six inches of roadbed properly
aUG II is better than sixteen or eighteen
iHchc5 poorly constructed any time.
let me- plead with you to get experts
:: 'ald your mdcadam roads. Get
MeO who know their business. Spend
EoGT money properly at the start and
e. oA you will have no trouble.
NOW, there are two ways of paying
,.fJg,u road-by the voting of bonds and
lis G5lect taxation. While | do not
want to arbitrarily advise following
tie former. II has big advantages, and
The principal one is that it makes
money available at once. Then, too,
ii MIST be remembered that in the
building of road it should not all be
lad Qpon the farmer. That is unfair
and unjust and is burden to him. Be
iaa H-eti iYtp. Of
parent to a man living in town just as
well rs one living in the country. In
fact, it affects the city man more acute
fl -
- farmer can practically come to the
city when he pleases, for he always
has enough provisions to supply him
for his immediate needs, and can wait
for clear skies and better roads. But
me man i'll the city who deals in farm
products, rs many do, must turn his
money quickly, lie must sell his goods
il their season. Margins are small,
and quantity determines his wealth
Therefore it must not be forgotten that
tie merchant in the city should feel
il is iast as incumbent upon himself
tc see that the roads in the country
ara GOOD as the farmer who must al
ways Use them to get to town.
'D0lit forget another thing when
F.. YOU 50 to lay out road. Don't forget
that you have right of eminent do
main to choose the route of the hig,-
way A railroad has that same privi-
lege. Did you ever see its engineers
Just take line and follow it regard
less of the natural advantages. But
that Is done in section line road.
Jus{ Because the land is measured off
fn a certain way the road must follow
.-iA not because of any law or reason
;. but because of custom. You have the
right Of eminent domain to choose the
; i1iG which a road shall follow, and
when you build new one remember
thaG'
Grange work In Illinois.
state Master Oliver Wilson of Mag
'lmlia, H., says that the grange is pros
peyir& wonderfully in the Prairie
le.8te Even during the busy harvest
sepeoH the work was carried on sue
ccs5fu.ly and thing never before
1EHoUn in Illinois was the organization
o. n subordinate grange, with forty
three members. in midharyest season.
--(Eapge fairs in Illinois have proved
tliat strictly agricultural exhibitions.
without ohtpcf7opahle features will